ECOPTIC ORTHODOX PATRIARCHATEHOLY ZEALBYHIS HOLINESS POPE SHENOUDA III
2Title: Holy ZealAuthor: H.H. Pope Shenouda IIITranslated by: Mrs Glynis Younan - LondonEdition: The First - May 1990Typesetting: J.C. Center, HeliopolisPrinting: Dar El Tebaa El Kawmia, Cairo.Legal Deposit No.: 474011990Revised: COEPA 1997
34H.H. Pope Shenouda III, 117th Pope ofAlexandria and the See of St. Mark
5CONTENTS
IntroductionCHAPTER ONE: Holy zeal and how it works1.
Zeal is a fire that burns
2.
He prays and weeps and becomes depressed
3.
Positive action
4.
Wrestling with God
5.
Encouraging the weak
6.
Going along with them step by step
7.
Partnership with GodCHAPTER TWO: Motives of holy zeal1.
Love of God and his Kingdom
2.
Love of people and compassion for them
3.
The example of the apostle Paul
4.
Don't stand by and watch
5.
The value of the individual soul
6.
The importance of saving souls
7.
Obstacles to zealCHAPTER THREE: The necessary conditions of holy zeal1.
Zeal based on knowledge
2.
Accompanied by a good lifestyle
3.
Constructive not destructive
4.
A strong and courageous zeal
5.
A fruitful and active zeal
6CHAPTER FOUR: Examples of holy zeal1.
God himself
2.
The angels
3.
The prophet Moses
4.
Phinehas
5.
The boy David
6.
The prophet Elijah
7.
The prophet Isaiah
8.
The twelve disciples
9.
St. Paul the apostle
10.
St. Stephen
11.
St. Mark
12.
St. Athanasius
13.
Archdeacon Habib Girgis
14.
Some of the Desert fathers
7INTRODUCTION
This is a collection of lectures given in various meetings andconferences on the ministry during the sixties and seventies.
We present them to you so that they might be included in thecourses for those who are preparing for ministry, but they arealso suitable for use in meetings of deacons and those alreadycommitted to serving, besides making good presents for them atvarious religious festivals and other such occasions.
This book makes a useful sequel to the book 'Discipleship'which we have recently published. We are also hoping topublish, God willing, other books on the ministry, to make aseries which would be nice for you to follow in sequence.
The book which is before you speaks about the nature of holyzeal, and about its incentives and necessary attributes, drawingexamples from the Bible and the lives of the saints. Itdistinguishes between the true zeal, which is holy, and thatwhich is false and wrong, and it also contains a number of othertopics on the ministry and service to God.POPE SHENOUDA III
89CHAPTER ONEHOLY ZEAL AND HOW IT WORKS
Zeal is a fire that burnsHe prays and weeps and becomes depressedPositive actionWrestling with GoodEncouraging the weakGoing along with them step by stepPartnership with God
10Zeal Is A Fire That Burns :Holy zeal is a fire burning in the heart of a believer whichimpels him, with great enthusiasm, to strive his hardest forthe purpose of saving others and building the Kingdom .
Just as it was said about our Lord and Master, that He:" desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge ofthe truth. ", (1 Tim. 2:4) so too, the person who is aglow withholy zeal wants everybody to be saved. He not only wants it,but works for it with all his might and all his feelings, withoutletting up, like David the prophet, who said:" Surely I will not go into the chamber of my house,Or go up to the comfort of my bed;I will not give sleep to my eyesOr slumber to my eyelids,Until I find a place for the Lord,A dwelling place for the Mighty One of Jacob. ".(Ps. 132:3-5).Thus someone whom holy zeal has set ablaze, never lets upor rests, until he finds a place for the Lord in the heart ofeveryone, so that by all possible means he might save some.(1 Cor. 9:22).
This zeal is a fire in the heart of a person who is aglow with theSpirit, whose heart is kindled with love of God, love of peopleand love of the Kingdom. So, full of fervour he works earnestlyto fulfil his holy desires, to save others and spread the Kingdom.What a wonderful thing it was that when God wanted tosend His disciples out to minister, the Spirit descendedupon them like tongues of fire. This was how He kindled
11them for service, so that their words in preaching the gospelbecame words of fire, as if they were flaming arrows, settinghearts ablaze and stirring consciences, and not returning empty.(Isiah 55:11). A speech of the apostle Peter's on the day ofPentecost led three thousand to faith (Acts 2:41). It was bythis burning spirit and this holy zeal, that the Kingdom of Godcame with power.It is that fire about which our Lord Jesus Christ said: "Icame to send fire on the earth, and how I wish it werealready kindled!" (Luke 12:49).
This was the fiery action which began on the day of Pentecostand continued, and it was strengthened by this, that the saintlyapostles stood before the full force of the Jews and the Romans,bearing witness to their faith, " with all confidence, no oneforbidding him ". (Acts 28:31), "and great grace was uponthem all" (Acts 4:31-33).How beautiful are the words of the Psalm: "Who makesHis angels spirits, His ministers a flames of fire". (Ps 104:4).
If you are a fire that burns, then you can be a useful servant ofGod's, for the Bible says to those who serve, "fervent in spirit,serving the Lord" (Rom. 12:11) because our Lord God himselfwas called "a consuming fire". (Deut. .4:24).
The word of God was also in the heart of the prophet Jeremiah"like a fire", (Jer. 20:9) and he could not remain still or keepsilent despite all the trouble that befell him. The Lord said toJeremiah: "I will make My words in your mouth a fire"(Jer. 5:14 ). And Jeremiah cried out:" Oh, my soul, my soul!I am pained in my very heart!
12My heart makes a noise in me,I cannot hold my peace". (Jer. 4:19).
Then there was David the prophet who said: "Because zeal forYour house has eaten me up, and the reproaches of those whoreproach t you have fallen on me". (Ps. 69:9)."It is as though the insult, O Lord, which is directed to You, orYour church, or Your people, by wrongdoers, falls upon mepersonally", is what David means. When Goliath insulted thearmy of the living God, (1 Sam. 17:26) David actually felt this,and he did not rest until he had removed that dishonour.Zeal is the state of a heart that is fervent, ablaze with loveof God, which wants God's love to reach every heart. Aperson with such a heart loves God and wants all people tolove Him too.
The heart of such a person burns for the glory of God and forspreading His word. It wishes the Kingdom of God to spreaduntil it embraces all people and all places. It wants to see faithentering every heart, so that no one loses his share in theKingdom.
Someone who possesses zeal is a person kindled by fire. Hisspeech is like a flame in its enthusiasm, and his prayers arelike fire in their impact. His service to God is like fire in itseffectiveness and far-reaching extent.
By his zeal he kindles hearts, sets feelings ablaze, strengthensthe will, and impels his listeners towards repentance and theKingdom, by arousing their conscience .
In contrast, we have those who speak in a feeble, half-heartedway which convinces no one, which yields no fruit, and whichshows none of the fervour of the Spirit.
13An example of this lukewarm and unproductive word is therebuke given by Eli the priest to his sons. He said to them:"Why do you do such things? For I hear evil dealings from allthe people. No, my sons; For it is not a good report that I hear.You make the Lord's people transgress". (1 Sam. 2 : 23-24).Such words lacking seriousness, firmness or vigour, had noeffect on them, and the Bible goes on to say that Eli's sons "didnot listen to their father's rebuke". (1 Sam. 2:25). Thus theyexposed their father to the wrath of God.Another example is Lot's warning to his relatives in Sodom.In his way of life among them, there was neither force norstrength to give his words effect. He had previously seen theirevil ways, but had lacked that holy zeal for the commandmentsof God to do anything about it. He had even given them hisdaughters as wives and become related to them throughmarriage. Therefore, when he said to them: "Hurry and get outof this place, because the Lord is about to destroy the city!",they did not listen, in fact the Bible goes on to say: "But to hissons-in-law he seemed to be joking". (Gen. 19:14).On the other hand, there is the example of the apostle Paulwho, according to the Bible, in spite of standing accused beforethe governor Felix, "he reasoned about righteousness, self-control and the judgement to come", and Felix was afraid. (Acts24:25). The same kind of situation occurred when he spokebefore King Agrippa, and that unbelieving king was unable toresist the force of Paul's words. Then Agrippa said to Paul, "You almost persuade me to become a Christian." (Acts26:28).Zeal is an effective force in which there is an earnestnessand solicitude for others, there is nothing feeble or laxabout it.
14The Bible says: " Cursed is he who does the work of the Lorddeceitfully" (Jer. 48:10). Thus the servants of God have alwaysbeen characterised by zeal, working as hard as they can, with alltheir might, and going to every length. I hope to describe this ina section of its own later, under the necessary qualifications ofzeal.The Lord said to His disciples: " Follow me, and I will makeyou fishers of men". (Matt. 4:19).
What a fisherman is supposed to do is to search for the placeswhere the fish are, and in which it is possible to make a catch.Then he has to lay the bait and cast the net and patiently stick athis task, as St Peter said to the Lord Jesus Christ: "Master, wehave toiled all night..." (Luke 5:5). So there is labour andeffort involved in the matter, but it ends in joy when the net isfilled with fish.The apostle Paul was so zealous that he used to go onpreaching until after midnight. (Acts 20:7). There is thewell-known story of Eutychus who went to sleep as Paul talkedon and on, and fell out of the window. (Acts 20:9).
Our Lord Jesus Christ used to preach all day to the people tillthe sun went down (Luke 9:12). So we too, then, ought to useall our energy and make every effort for the salvation of others.As the apostle said of his own ministry, "In weariness and toil,in sleeplessness, often in hunger and thirst, in fasting often, incold and nakedness". (2 Cor. 11:27)
The servant of God who is aflame with zeal, is not content onlyto labour, but rather:He prays and weeps and becomes depressed:
15He prays and says "Your will be done, on earth as in heaven.Your Kingdom come..." May You, O Lord, rule every heart.May You rule the peoples and the nations and over those landswhere unbelief is widespread, where they have begun to lose allsense of the existence of God. May You become the Lord ofeveryone who does not yet know You and know Your love formankind and Your wondrous salvation.
One might find an individual whose heart has been set ablaze byzeal, but who, on feeling that he has nothing to embark on andno direction in which to channel his zeal into productiveactivity, can only stand before God and weep.
He might, for example, stand before a map of Asia and weep forthe hundreds of millions who do not know God: a thousandmillion Communists in China do not know God, and likewisesome five hundred million in India, and more than two million inJapan... and there are so many who still worship Brahma andBuldah and Confucius! Indeed, where is the Kingdom of Godrepresented in this continent in which our Lord Jesus Christ wasborn?!When, O Lord, will what the psalm speaks about come topass: " The earth is the Lord's, and all its fullness, Theworld and those who dwell therein." (Ps. 24-1).
And what can we say about the Red Indians, and about theprimitive tribes in central and southern Africa?
And if such a person is unmoved by the plight of these distantforeigners, then his heart might well burn for those who areChristians only in name who lead a life of permissiveness andmaterialism, who have no links with God or the Church, andwho do not lead a spiritual life!
16And what about those Christians who change their religion andlive as atheists ... ?! How and when can they all return to God?!
At this point, holy zeal takes possession of their hearts, like theprophet Jeremiah when he said: "Oh, that my head werewaters, and my eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weepday and night for the slain of the daughter of my people".(Jer. 9:1).
He wept day and night for those whom sin had killed, whomSatan had led astray, who had chosen another road and becameliable to destruction.
We see how the prophet David was overwhelmed by depressionand tears for the sinners who had gone down the slippery slopeto corruption, when he said to the Lord, in his zeal: "My zealwears me out, for my enemies ignore Your words". " Rivers ofwater run down from my eyes, Because men do not keep Yourlaw .". (Ps. 119:136).Let us also remember here the prophet Samuel when hegrieved for Saul. When the Lord rejected Saul: " And itgrieved Samuel, and he cried out to the Lord all night". (1Sam. 15:11) "Samuel mourned for Saul, and the Lordregretted that He had made Saul king over Israel".(1 Sam. 15:35).
We recall here, too, the striving of the Father Confessors fortheir children.
The apostle Paul says about this: "Obey those who rule overyou and be submissive for they watch out for your souls. asthose who must give account. Let them do so with joy andnot with grief..." (Heb. 13:17).
17This is how a Father Confessor is in his zeal for the salvation ofhis children. He weeps for the sinner, grieves for him, fasts forhim and prays long mataniyas (prostrations in prayer) for him.And he humbles himself for the sake of that person's salvation.He prays for each one of his children: "Lord have mercy on soand so. O Lord, forgive him and look kindly upon him. O Lord,help so and so, and save him from such and such a sin. Do notlet him perish, O Lord, or be lost... O Lord, O Lord..."
Throughout day and night, he always feels sadness and pain inhis heart for his spiritual children. He wishes he could say asthe Lord said to his Father: "While I was with them, I keptthem in Your name, Those whom You gave Me I have keptthem and none of them is lost..." (John 17:12).Positive Action:At this point we might recall Nehemiah's zeal and howmuch it accomplished.
When Nehemiah heard from some of his brothers that the wallof Jerusalem had been breached, and its gates burned with fire,and that its people were in trouble and disgrace, he showed hiszeal for the Lord saying: "When I heard these things, I sat downand wept. and mourned for many days. I was fasting andpraying before the God of heaven. Then I said Now these areYour servants and Your people, whom You have redeemed byYour great power." (Neh. 1:4-10).But Nehemiah was not content just with praying andlamenting, he wanted to do something.
So he decided to speak to the king on that matter. SinceNehemiah was a cupbearer for the king and held a sensitiveposition, his depression could not go unnoticed. When the kingasked him why he was unhappy, he answered: "Why should my
18face not be sad when the city the place of my fathers' tombs,lies waste, and its gates are burned with fire?" and hecontinued: "If it pleases the king and if your servant has foundfavour in your sight, I ask that you send me to Judah, to thecity of my fathers' tombs that I can rebuild it". (Neh. 2:3-5).Thus Nehemiah's zeal was not just a passive reaction, it wasa positive, productive and active one. So he travelled andgathered his people and organised the work of rebuilding. Thenhe said his famous phrase: "Come and let us rebuild the wall ofJerusalem, that we may no longer be in reproach".(Neh. 2:17).
In the course of the rebuilding, Nehemiah endured manytroubles and insults from his enemies, but he resisted stronglyand his workers were with him. "with one hand they worked atconstruction and with the other held the weapon." (Neh. 4:17)until the rebuilding of the wall was completed in 52 days (Neh.6 : 15), after which Nehemiah devoted himself to spiritualreforms and leading the people to repentance. (NehemiahChapters 8 - 10).
In fact the zeal of the heart can lead a person to depression andto weeping for the sake of sinners, just as it can also lead him tomission work in bringing people to faith and repentance. WhenSt. Paul entered Athens it was said of him that: "his spirit wasprovoked within him when he saw that the city was given overto idols". (Acts 17:16). Thus he used to speak to whomeverhe met in the market place every day, and entered intodiscussions with the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers. Hespoke at the Areopagus as well as in the Jewish synagogues.Apollos, who was also aglow with the Spirit, did the same:"He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and beingfervent in spirit and taught accurately the things of the Lord...he vigorously refuted the Jews publicity, showing from theScriptures that Jesus is the Christ". (Acts 18:25-28).
19Another aspect of zeal is that of wrestling with God.Wrestling With God:
An example of this rather strange situation is that in which theprophet Moses found himself when God told him that He woulddestroy His people if they worshipped the golden calf. So whenMoses put all his fervour into interceding for them and askingGod to forgive them their sins, they were not destroyed. Hisfervour reached such a point that he said: "Lord, why shouldYour wrath burn hot against Your people..? Yet now, if Youwill forgive their sin - but if not, I pray, blot me out of thebook which You have written". (Ex. 32:11 & 32).
What Moses meant was: 1 do not wish to enter the Kingdom ofheaven alone. Either You forgive them, or 1 perish with them ifthey die, and You wipe out my name from the book which Youhave written ... !! Just see the extent of Moses' love and zeal.This is why God said to him, before punishing the people: "Nowtherefore let Me alone so that My wrath may burn hot againstthem and I may consume them. And I will make you a greatnation". (Ex. 32:10).I can't help being amazed at the words, "Leave me alone"which the Lord said to Moses, almost as if Moses wereclutching hold of Him and not letting Him move..!
Are You saying to him, O Lord, "Leave Me alone?!" Yet whocan hold onto You? Who can restrain You, when You are theAlmighty God?! 'It was Moses' love for his people and his zealfor their salvation which caught hold of the Lord, and preventedHim from destroying them. Look at what Moses said to Him."Turn from Your fierce wrath; and relent from this harm to
20and Your people. Remember Your servants Abraham, Isaac..."(Ex. 32:12-13). "Why should the Egyptians speak, and say: Hebrought them out to harm them, to kill them in the mountainsand to consume them the face of the earth?" (Ex. 32:12).This, then, is wrestling with God, which involvessupplication, intercession, eloquence, conviction, love forothers and a holding fast to God to 'prevent' Him fromdestroying them...!
When I was a little child who didn't understand very much, Iimagined that Jacob, the father of fathers, was the only one whowrestled with God and said to Him: "I will not let You go unlessYou bless me". (Gen. 32:26). But here we have Moses sayingthe same thing to Him, "I will not let You go... I will not letYour anger burn against Your people. I will not let Youdestroy them, I will not let You go until You pardon them andrelent..."
"You must pardon, You must forgive and if You do not wish toforgive them then wipe my name from the book in whichYou've written".This is the zeal of a heart that does not want anyone toperish, and "who desires all men to be saved and to come to aknowledge of the truth". (1 Tim. 2:4). This is the zeal of onewho wrestles with God for the salvation of all, even those whoworshipped the golden calf, and said: "This is your god, OIsrael, that brought you out of the land of Egypt!" (Ex. 32:4).
This zeal of Moses' reminds me of something St Paul said: "Ihave great sorrow and continual grief in my heart. For Icould wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for mybrethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh" (Rom. 9:2-3).
21What he means is: if, through my being cut off from Christ, theycould be united with Him, then I would rather be thus deprivedso that they could be one with Him!! What greater love, in thefield of ministry, can there be than this?! And what zeal forsacrificing oneself for the sake of others is more profound thanthis? It shows real love and compassion for them.
Those children of God who possess zeal have to wrestle withGod on behalf of the Church and for the sake of the salvation ofevery soul. They cry aloud to God saying: "Rise up, O LordGod, and let all Your enemies be scattered... and let allthose who hate Your holy name flee from Your sight".
As for your people, though, may they by Your blessing, inthousands upon thousands and ten thousands come to do Yourwill."Help, Lord, for the godly are no more; the faithful havevanished from among men". (Ps. 12:1). Rise up and act, forYou are the hope of him who has no hope, and the support ofhim who has no support. Come and help us Lord, for "we'veworked hard all night and haven't caught anything". (Luke5:5). You are our strength and You are our support, withoutYou we can do nothing. (John 15:5).
One of the spiritual ways in which holy zeal acts is to encouragesinners, so that they are not overcome by despair, and do notlose heart.Encouraging Weak:
How beautiful and profound are the words of St. Paul."_comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient withall". (1 Thess. 5:14).
22
22The most dangerous weapon which Satan uses is to make thesinful person feel that it is no use, that sin has taken completecontrol of him, and that he has no way out!
And through this despair, Satan leads him to resignation and toremaining as he is in his wrongful situation, without a way ofrepenting or becoming saved.The person who is full of zeal, however, for the salvation ofsouls, opens before sinners the door of hope, and gives thema push towards it. He blows on the faltering wick, just in casethere is enough life in it to burn again. He binds up the bruisedreed in case it might stand upright again, and he says toeveryone: 'Do not be afraid. God will never leave you. God'sdivine help will work along with you. There are many solutionsto your problem. God is able to solve it'. In this way he givesthat person a push of encouragement just as the two angels didto Lot to make him leave Sodom. (Gen. 19:15-16). Weremember, then, the words of the apostle:"Therefore, strengthen the hands which hang down, and thefeeble knees!" (Heb. 12:12). And to help you in this, use allpossible love, compassion and patience... and take as yourexample those whose situation was worse than yours and whomGod was able to save.It is also by holy zeal that those engaged in ministry arestimulated and strongly encouraged. Thus our Lord JesusChrist used to encourage His disciples by saying to them: " letnot your heart be troubled neither let it be afraid". (John14:27). "I am with you always, even to the end of the age".(Matt. 28:20). "...they will deliver you up to the councils andscourge you in their synagogues... But when they deliver youup, do not worry about how and what you should speak . For itwill be given to you in that hour what you should speak for itis not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks
23in you". (Matt. 10:17-20). "But the very hairs of your headare all numbered". (Matt. 10:30).Through such encouragement as this, they were filled withzeal and served fearlessly.
See how God encouraged Jeremiah in the Old Testament, whenHe said to him: "Do not be afraid of their faces, for I am withyou to deliver you... I have put My words in your mouth... Ihave made you this day a fortified city, an iron pillar and abronze wall to stand against the whole land... They will fightagainst you but they shall not prevail against you, for I amwith you, says the Lord ` to deliver you'". (Jer. 1:8-19).
In much the same way, the Lord encouraged Paul: "Do not beafraid, but speak, and do not keep silent. For I am withyou, and no one will attack to hurt you". (Acts 18:9-10).
The Lord also gave the same kind of encouragement to Moseswhen the latter made an excuse that he was not eloquent. TheLord said to him: "Now therefore go; and I will be with yourmouth and teach you what shall say... take this rod in yourhand with which you shall do the signs ". (Ex. 4:10-17).
Even the strongest people need encouragement at times, ashappened to the prophet Elijah, when he fled from Jezebel.(1 Kings 19).If the heat of zeal grows cool, some encouragement canrekindle it.
If the prophets like Jeremiah, Moses, Elijah, the apostle Pauland the other apostles needed encouragement, as we have justshown, then how much more do sinners who have fallen needit?!
24If you come across a sinner who seems unable to repentbecause he has come to enjoy and even like sin, say to him:"You will not always find that you love to sin, for the grace ofGod will act within you and save you from wanting to dowrong. And there will come a time when you will hate it anddespise it. God will not let the Devil fight you forever withoutmercy. God will definitely stop him before he goes too far. Sodo not be afraid"." A thousand may fall at your side, And ten thousand atyour right hand; But it shall not come near you. Only withyour eyes shall you look, And see the reward of the wicked.".(Ps. 91:7,8).
There are some individuals who live a life of righteousness, butyet fear that they will not be able to follow that path to continueit to the end. And there are those who are surrounded bytemptation and who fear that they do not have the capacity toresist, or hold out against it... To both these types explain theaction of God's grace and the Holy Spirit. And tell them thatGod will never leave a human being all on his own, even iftemptation or trials beset him for a time. God's grace will surelyreach out to him and save him.
Encourage them with the words of Jeremiah, when the enemiessurrounded the city: "Don't be afraid... Those who are with usare more than those who are with them". (2 Kin. 6:16).
In this way, sinners will not become afraid, but will stand firm.And besides encouraging sinners, one must also go along withthem step by step.
25Going Along With Them Step By Step:Being strongly zealous does not mean imposing a life ofperfection on others, as if people were capable of behavingperfectly!
This is what the Scribes and Pharisees tried to do, and our LordJesus Christ rebuked them because "For they bind heavyburdens hard to bear and lay them on men's shoulders, butthey, themselves, will not move them with one of their fingers".(Matt. 23:4). By doing this they were shutting the Kingdom ofheaven in men's faces. They, themselves did not enter, norwould they let those who were trying to enter go in.(Matt. 23:13).Zeal does not mean finding fault with others for notbehaving according to some ideal, exemplary standard, butrather it means helping them to keep on aspiring to it.
It means giving strength to the faint-hearted, hope to thedespairing, and confidence to whomever imagines that the lifeof righteousness is beyond him. It means taking every person'shand and raising him to the level at which we should like to seehim. That involves taking away his fears and demonstrating tohim that the spiritual life is easy and possible...This only comes by patiently going along step by step withthe beginner and the penitent.
There are numerous examples of this in the Bible: such as whatthe apostles said at the first holy assembly, which they called inJerusalem, about receiving the Gentiles into the faith. This iswhat our saintly forefathers said in their compassion, kindnessand wisdom: "we should not make it difficult for the Gentileswho are turning to God". (Acts 15:19). "But that we write tothem, to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual
26immorality, from things strangled and from blood..." (Acts15:20). Thus the apostles did not put before the Gentiles lots ofcommandments that would make their way difficult.
This is why St. Paul also said to the people of Corinth: "And Ibrethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but asto carnal, as to babes in Christ. I fed you milk, and not withsolid food, for until now you were not able to receive it".(1 Cor. 3:1-2).
Holy zeal does not mean trying to make the beginner travel thewhole spiritual road in one go; for that is impossible in practicalterm. But rather it means taking him by the hand and goingalong with him step by step until he arrives on the right path.Then the more enjoyment he finds in a developing spiritual life,the more he will long to progress and bring it to fulfilment. Thiswill not come by controlling him or ordering him in various ways,but will come through natural unfolding. Our forefather Jacobspoke well when he said of his tender flocks that were nursingtheir young: "If they are driven hard all ... will die". (Gen.33:13).
Even our Lord Jesus said to His disciples, "I still have manythings to say to you, but you cannot bear them now". (John16:12). Thus He went on to tell them everything, only at itsright time, when they were able to understand and take it in.The principle which the Lord used was "when the time had fullycome". (Gal. 4:4).So zeal does not mean sternness in leadership and givingguidance. Nor does it mean that those who have knowledgeshould pride themselves over those who are weak andincapable. And it certainly does not mean that you ask thebeginner to reach the summit straightaway, otherwise you willgive him a thorough telling off in the name of holy zeal. Everyhuman being has his own level, "as God has dealt to each one ameasure of faith ". (Rom. 12:3). So we do not demand that
27everyone be on the same level in regard to zeal, but that eachone should reach his potential according to his gifts andopportunities.Perhaps he is unable to manage it at the present time, butmay well be able to do so at a later date.
Therefore, do not check anyone's aspirations. Just encourageeveryone and be prepared to go along with one who is young infaith step by step until he matures, and with the one who isweak, until he gets strong... without thinking yourself superior,or priding yourself like a Pharisee. Be sympathetic andencouraging rather than obstructive and disparaging. Do all youcan to build up the weak person, not tear him down.
Along with encouraging those who have done wrong, and goingalong with them step by step, you need to put before you aspiritual principle which is important in understanding this point,always aiming at making it easier for people to liveaccording to God's Commandments by raising the peopleto higher standards, not by being lax and over-tolerant anddiluting the Commandments to bring them down to man'slevel of sin.
We say in the liturgy of the divine Mass, "facilitate for us theway to godliness". Just as a successful teacher makes it easierfor his pupils to understand his particular branch of learning, sothe one who facilitates the way for others to carry out God'sCommandments, without being over-indulgent or toopermissive or allowing them to break His laws, is alsosuccessful in his ministry. Therefore let your zeal be mixed withwisdom, and remember what the Bible says: "he who winssouls is wise". (Prov. 11:30).
But let us move on now to another point concerning how zealworks, which is how it acts along with God .
28Partnership With God:
No one can save another person except by means of Godhimself, For motivating hearts and awakening consciences ispart of the activity of that very God. For it was God who said:"Let there be light" and there was light, (Gen. 1:3) and whosaid: "for without Me you can do nothing". (John 15:5).Thus any action on behalf of saving souls can only be donein partnership with God, which is why the apostle Paul saidabout himself and his colleague Apollos: "we are God's fellow-workers; you are God's field, you are God's building" (1 Cor.3:9). The individual himself, must have already made contactwith God, in order to bring others to Him.Let us take iron and magnetism as an example.
A magnet can attract iron, and when the iron becomesmagnetised it can, in turn, attract another piece of iron towardsit. And if they should meet a third piece of iron, that will beattracted to them too. So a piece of iron, that is in contact witha magnet, can itself attract another piece. But if it is not incontact with the magnet, then it cannot do that. Even a piece ofiron that weighs a ton cannot attract a tiny nail unless that hugemass is magnetised. Yet a magnetised nail has the power toattract; even though it is small.
Another example is that of an electric light and an electriccurrent.
You can find electric lights which are very beautiful, verypowerful and of quite an exquisite type, which emit a light thatgives people great joy to see. But in actual fact, such lights canonly give light as long as they are connected to an electric
29current. If they are cut off from the electricity supply then theycease to work; their usefulness, beauty and attractive shape areworth nothing.So too will all your zeal be in vain if you are far away fromGod, who is the source of power.
Thus, in spite of the disciples' zeal in spreading the Kingdom ofGod, the Lord said to them: "...tarry in the city (Jerusalem)until you are endued with power from on high". (Luke 24:49).And He went on to say, "But you shall receive power when theHoly Spirit has come upon you; and you shall witnesses toMe..." (Acts 1:8). And that is how it was. The apostles onlybegan their ministry after the Holy Spirit had descended onthem.
Do you think that the apostles' zeal would have been enough tomake their ministry successful, without the Holy Spirit comingupon them?!
No, it definitely would not have been, for ministry dependsentirely on partnership with God, who acts in us, with us andthrough us. "Unless the Lord builds the house, its builderslabour in vain". (Ps. 127:1). It was Paul who "I planted theseed, Apollos watered it, but God gave the increase". (1 Cor.3:6).
Paul commented on this matter, saying: "So then neither he whoplants is anything, nor he who waters, but God, who gives theincrease". (1 Cor. 3:7).So have a close look at your zeal then, and ask yourself if itis working with God?
If you lose that link with God, you will not be able to connectanyone to Him, however zealous you might be, because
30"...whoever does not have, even what he has will be takenaway from him". (Mark 4:25).
So we must love God in order to make others love Him. Andwe must obey His commands so that we will be able to explainto others, in practical terms, how His directions should beobeyed.Truly what humility God shows, that He takes us aspartners in His activity. Yet how lazy and idle we are inreturn!
God is able to save the whole world without us. But out of Hisloving humility He took us as His partners; we who are weakand sinful! So how can we ignore this grace of His and be sosluggish and idle in working for Him? And why don't we showsuch fiery zeal, like Him?!This is really strange. But what is more baffling is that wesometimes even obstruct the growth of His Kingdom, whichwe do by our negativity, our struggles against each other in theministry, by our lukewarm attitude and by our taking the keysto the Kingdom and not entering, and not letting those whowant to enter do so, and by our human rivalries, which are all soremote from the true spirit of zeal and service!!
31CHAPTER TWOMOTIVES OF HOLY ZEAL
1.
Love of God and His Kingdom
2.
Love of People and Compassion for them
3.
The example of the apostle Paul
4.
Don't stand by and watch
5.
The value of the individual soul
6.
The importance of saving souls
7.
Obstacles to zeal
32There are many things which motivate holy zeal, some of whichare concerned with God, and some with man, while others areconcerned with the activity itself and with the individual's soul.Love Of God And His Kingdom:
Whoever loves God, wants everyone to love Him. His heartbecomes kindled with zeal when he finds people far away fromGod and those who love him. He wants everyone andeverything to be God's. "The earth is the Lord's, and all itsfullness the world and those who dwell therein". (Ps. 24:1).Whoever loves God wants the Kingdom of God to spread,and for God to enter every heart and every home in every city.So he cries out day and night from deep within his heart, "ThyKingdom come", and cannot bear it if there is anyone resistingGod or fighting against His Kingdom. Thus he works with allhis might to attract everyone to God's Kingdom.Whoever loves God, naturally loves God's children. Hewants them all to be saved, so that none goes astray or perishes.Every soul that he meets is precious to him, because it is one ofGod's children who are, after all, created in the image andlikeness of God.Whoever loves God, finds pleasure in bringing joy to God'sheart. But how might he do that? The Bible says, "There isjoy of the angels of God over one sinner who repents"(Luke 15:10).
So if you wish to bring joy to the heart of God in the presenceof His heavenly angels, try to lead someone to repentance. Godsays: "Let us eat and be merry. For this my son was dead andis alive again; he was lost and is found". (Luke 15:23-24).
33Anyone who loves God, likewise obeys His commandments.And God's command says: "Seek first the Kingdom of God andHis righteousness". (Matt. 6:33). And what else? It says, "Donot labour for the food which perishes, but for the food whichendures to everlasting life". (John 6:27). Therefore, we mustseek the Kingdom of God with all our strength and feelings, andmust offer to the children of God the everlasting food that theyneed for eternal life.Love Of People And Compassion For Them:Your deep concern for people springs from your love forthem, and your desire for their salvation.
So let them feel your love. Be friendly to them and make themlove you, then they will come to love the holy life which youlead and they will want to be spiritual like you; for it is yourspirituality which attracts them to you and which will attractthem to God. Trust that love will have a strong and greateffect.
Our Lord Jesus showed His love to tax-collectors, and wouldsometimes eat with them, while the Pharisees looked down onthem. But in the end it was Christ's love which was victorious,and which won them over.As a consequence of your love for others, you will feelconcerned about their eternal fate. There are certain versesin the Holy Bible which can only strike terror into a man who istrying to serve God, because his love for his brothers makes himfear for them, lest they should come to a grievous end on thelast day, as our Lord said: "Depart from Me, you cursed, intothe everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels".(Matt. 25:41).
34Wretched indeed will be those who will enter the everlasting fireto join Satan and the rest of the devils, in that place which theBook of Revelation referred to as, "in the lake which burnswith fire and brimstone which is the second death".(Rev. 21 . 8).
This is where "the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable,murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters and allliars" will be found. (Rev. 21:8).
If we were to imagine some of our brothers and sisters, friendsand acquaintances, or any human being for that matter, havingsuch a fate, how terrible it would be. This is the fate which ourLord spoke of when he said: "There will be wailing andgnashing of teeth". (Matt. 13:50)."So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will comeforth, separate the wicked from among the just and cast theminto the furnace of fire...", "as the tares are gathered andburned in the fire, so it will be at the end of this age".(Matt. 13:49, 50, 40).
How difficult it is for us to come to terms with what our Lordsaid, that at the end He might say: "I never knew you. Awayfrom Me, you who practice lawlessness!"(Matt. 7:21-23). Thisis what He will say on the Last Day to those who did not do thewill of the Father who is in heaven. Our Lord also said to thefoolish virgins: "I tell you the truth, I don't know you."(Matt. 25:12).The more we bear in mind the verses relating to eternity,the more we are likely to fear for our brothers. There arethe verses concerning everlasting torment, the outer darkness,and the rich man being tortured in that eternal fire, crying out toLazarus for a drop of water to cool his mouth. (Luke 16:24).
35It is then that we get concerned, and fear for those who mightperish, and be barred from the presence of God and His angelsto be thrown into eternal torment, without hope and withoutany prospect of release...So the question is not just that of zeal for the Kingdom ofGod, this zeal also carries within it love of God, love forpeople and deep concern for their eternal fate.
It is a love that strives for the salvation of those souls which arethreatened by eternal destruction. As St. Peter the Apostle said:" receiving the end of your faith, the salvation of your souls.Of this salvation the prophets... searched diligently, andprophesied of the grace that would come to you".(1 Peter 1:9-10).The Example Of The Apostle Paul:
Out of his love and concern for others, Paul said: "Who isweak, and 1 am not weak? Who is made to stumble, and Ido not burn with indignation?" (2 Cor.11:29) by which hemeant that if anyone was ill, it was as if he himself were ill too,in sympathy with that person. And if somebody stumbled andfell in his spiritual life, Paul would be deeply concerned for him,so that such person, for whom Christ died, might be saved frombecoming spiritually languid and instead; regaining his originalfervour.
St. Paul used to apply all ways and means in order to bringothers to salvation. And he said concerning this: "For thoughI am free from all men, and I have make myself a servant toall, that I might win the more. To the Jews, I became as aJew that I might win the Jews. To those who are withoutlaw, as without law (not being without law toward God butunder the law toward Christ), that I might win those who are
36without law... I have become all things to all men, that Imight by all means save some". (1 Cor. 9:19-22).
It was a fight on behalf of other people, in which the apostlesought all appropriate means in order to bring them to salvation.The important thing was that they were saved, by whatever wayit happened to be. As St. Jude said: "Be merciful to those indoubt; snatch others from the fire and save them; to othersshow mercy, mixed with fear - hating even the clothing stainedby corrupted flesh". (Jude v. 22-23).Don't Stand By And Watch:We cannot stand by and watch the world perish!
We must do something practical to save it, as long as we areable... You can't see a fire burning a house and stand by andwatch. You can't see a blind man fall into a ditch and say, asCain did: "Am I my brother's keeper?" (Gen. 4:9). Look atwhat the apostle James said: "Therefor to him who knows todo good and doesn't do it, to him it is sin". (James 4:17).
If you know what to do, do it. And if you don't know, then askthose who do, or hand over the particular task to those whoknow. Don't ever be totally passive, for being passive isincompatible with being loving and being zealous... To bepassive would be as if you did not care about people'ssalvation!!The Value Of The Individual Soul:The person who is kindled with holy zeal for the salvationof others, has come to appreciate the value of the humansoul - any soul...
37He feels the value of the individual soul for which Christ died,just as the good shepherd searches after one lost sheep, until hefinds it and bears it safely home on his shoulders rejoicing.(Luke 15).An example of this is the way our Lord strove to save thewoman from Samaria.
He travelled a long distance for her sake, even though He wastired, hungry and thirsty, so that the Bible said of Him: " Jesustherefore being wearied from His journey, sat thus by the well.It was about the sixth hour". (John 4:6).
One of His disciples could well have asked Him, "Why are wegoing to all this trouble?! She's only a sinful and worthlesswoman!" But the Lord would have replied: "But she is Mydaughter, and I have come to call sinners, not the righteous, torepentance".
When His disciples called Him to eat, He said to them: "I havefood to eat which you do not know... My food is to do the willof Him who sent Me..." (John 4:32, 34)."My food is this soul: by its salvation I am nourished. Bysaving it my appetite and thirst are satisfied, and I find restand refreshment".
It was because of His preoccupation with saving this womanthat the Lord Jesus was able to ignore food, though He washungry, and ignore drinking, though He was thirsty. And that iswhy He cared nothing about His personal comfort despite beingtired and exhausted. The only thing that was in His mind washow to save that woman, and how to save the Samaritans.
This is true zeal for saving souls.
38Christianity does not just focus its concern on whole groupsof people, but is concerned also for each individual soul.
Love does not allow the individual to wander off and get lost inthe midst of a great crowd of people. In Christianity, everyperson feels that God cares specially for him, and that theChurch also cares for him in the same way.
Our Lord Jesus used to work in the midst of large crowds, asfor example, when He spoke to all the people in the sermon onthe mount. And also when He performed the miracle of the fiveloaves and two fish, there was a crowd of some five thousandlistening to Him.Yet our Lord Jesus, in the midst of the crowd, showed Hisconcern for Zacchaeus. Though the crowd was pressing in onhim, our Lord turned to Zacchaeus, paid him special attention,called him by name and entered his home. And our Lord said:"Today salvation has come to this house, because this man,too, is a son of Abraham". Our Lord justified his attention toZacchaeus by saying: "the Son of Man has came to seek and tosave that which was lost". (Luke 19:10).
Are you like Him: do you seek to save that which mightotherwise have perished?The Importance Of Saving Souls:
Whoever realises the importance of continuing Jesus' work ofsaving people will find his heart fired with zeal for this greatundertaking, about which we remember St. Peter when he said:"receiving the end of your faith, the salvation of yoursouls". (1 Peter 1:9).
39The apostle goes on to say that this was the salvation for whichthe prophets "searched intently and with the greatest care". (1Peter 1:10). And St. Paul says: "How shall we escape if weneglect so a great a salvation?" (Heb. 2:3).
Our Lord considered that whoever exerted himself in thissphere was working with Him. For He said: "He who does notgather with Me scatters". (Matt. 12:30).
Do you gather with Christ, or scatter? Do you gather these lostsouls and bear them home upon your shoulders joyfully, inorder to bring them together into the Kingdom? God wantsthose who will gather like Christ, because the harvest is great,but the workers few. Thus the Lord commanded us to makethis request part of our prayers, by saying:"Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laboursinto His harvest ". (Matt. 9:38).
Are you one of these workers? Are you trying hard to preparea place for the Lord in the heart of everyone, bearing in yourmind that the world has many people serving its materialisticand worldly values, and who in fact rival each other in itsservice, while those who serve the Lord by doing His work, arefew in number? And even if there appears on occasions to bemany, it may well be that they are not actually of very goodquality.The salvation of souls is more important to God than theact of creation: for what would the use of the world and all itscreatures be if it went to hell?! We may perhaps recall that theact of creation cost God nothing but the issuing of an order, likeHis words, for example, "Let there be light" and there waslight. (Gen. 1:3). But the act of salvation cost Him theincarnation, the release of His essential being, the pains of the
40cross and death, and all that the act of atonement andredemption required.
Therefore, the Lord's resting after saving the world from sin anddeath, was more important than His resting after the process ofcreation. Sunday was more important than Saturday, and so itbecame the Lord's day.The act of saving a soul is more important than a miracle ofraising a dead body to life. For the act of saving a soul, is infact a form of raising from the dead, but here it is a raising tolife of a lifeless spirit, which is of more importance than bringinga dead body back to life. Didn't the father say on the return ofthe prodigal son, "For this my son was dead and is aliveagain; he was lost and is found". (Luke 15:24). And theapostle St. James said concerning this:"he who turns a sinnerfrom the error of his way will save a soul from death andcover a multitude of sins". (James 5:20).
The Devil does his utmost to lead souls to death, using everykind of trick and temptation, and every snare, to catch them.But then we stand on the opposite side ready to save souls fromdeath. And we are working with God in this situation, as St.Paul said. (1 Cor. 3:9).Because this is the work of God, his angels and saints, it isof special importance. It is the work of the apostles, thepastors and the teachers, and of all the ranks of the clergy. Andit is also the work of all those who minister in the Lord'sVineyard, and of the souls of the righteous in theirintercessions. All are working for the sake of the Kingdom ofGod, to make it spread, and to save every soul. It is actually anactivity which every Christian is called upon to do according tohis abilities. St. James the apostle said: "Therefore to himwho knows the good and does not do it, to him it is sin".(James 4:17). So do whatever you can for the Kingdom,
41trusting that God will work with you. If you do not try, thenthis will be counted a fault against you...Perhaps an important aspect of this work is the rewardwhich is promised in return. Look at our forefathers theapostles, for instance, to whom our Lord said: "When the Sonof Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followedMe will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes ofIsrael". (Matt. 19:28).
If you say, however, that this only applies to the apostles,because they were of a very high rank, then let me tell youabout Daniel's prophecy about those who work to guide andhelp sinners. It was prophesied that: "Those who are wiseshall shine like the brightness of the firmament, and thosewho turned many to righteousness, like the stars for ever andever". (Dan.12:3).
They will shine like stars... what a great glory! This is how wefind the Lord, in the beginning of the Book of Revelation, whenJohn described Him as being in the midst of the seven lampstands, which represent the seven churches, holding in His righthand the seven stars which are the angels of the sevenchurches.(Rev. 1:13, 16, 20).Another important aspect of the salvation of souls is that itis a cause of joy to the Lord.
In the story of the lost sheep, we see that on finding it the Lord,"He lays it on his shoulders rejoicing". (Luke 15:5). And inthe story of the prodigal son, when he returned, his fatherslaughtered the fatted calf and told his servants to prepare afeast, "So they began to be merry". (Luke 15:24). And he saidto the other brother, "Let us eat and be merry. For this my sonwas dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found".(Luke 15:23).
42Then in the parable of the lost coin, the Bible tells us that whenthe widow found it, she didn't just rejoice on her own, but calledher friends and neighbours saying: "Rejoice with me; for I havefound the piece which I lost". (Luke 15:9).So if you feel that you have saddened God in the past byyour sins, try now to make Him happy by your repentanceand by trying to save others.
If there is joy in heaven "over one sinner who repents", (Luke15 : 10) then how much more rejoicing there will be over thosewho bring many others to righteousness. Wouldn't it be awonderful thing if you were to please God and bring joy to thehearts of his angels, by working to save souls? And at the sametime you would be making up to God for those years which thelocust ate away from your life and that of others. (Joel 1:4).
Just think, our forefather Abraham held a party for three angels(Gen. 18), but you can give a cause for celebration to all theangels of heaven by your holy zeal participating in the work ofsaving others, guiding them and rescuing them from sin orignorance, or from unbelief or permissiveness.Obstacles To Zeal:
There are various obstacles which some people put in the wayof service to God, which prevents them from being aflame withholy zeal. Ironically, these obstacles might well be clothed inspiritual garb, so that the person's conscience feels at ease aboutit, whilst in fact he is alienated from the action of holy zeal. Sowhat are these obstacles?
431.Some might justify that their concern for thesalvation of their own soul would let them too preoccupiedto be concerned for the salvation of others.
However, to save your soul, you should have love for others,and concern for their soul salvation. So how can you be savedif you don't love others and do your best to save their soul ?
I don't mean by this that you should think of yourself morehighly than you ought (Rom. 12:3) and set yourself up as apreacher or teacher to one and all, when you don't have enoughknowledge and experience! But think of yourself with soberjudgement according to your possibilities and talents.If there is anyone whom you find you are unable to guide,then pray for him.
Praying for the salvation of other people is something whicheveryone can do, and requires no special talents or abilities! Sostrive with God in this matter, and also put yourself along withthose who need to be ministered to and who need to be prayedfor.
I would also add that there is a difference between the monkwho shuts himself away in a life of seclusion, silence andworship, and a person who lives in the world, and who is awareof what people need and who cannot close his heart beforethem. (1 John 3:17).
2.Others might give as an excuse that being zealouswould make them lose their peaceable and humble nature,as if being peaceable and modest meant that a person had to beimmobile and inactive, or cool and never grow hot! Did St.Paul lose his meek and mild temper when he became furious tosee the city of Athens full of idols? (Acts 17:16). He acted and
44behaved in accordance with holy zeal, yet at the same time heretained his gentle character.
Our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom we learn how to be humbleand gentle, (Matt. 11:29) was acting under the influence of holyzeal when he twisted together a rope and purged the temple.He reproached the people, drove out the animals andoverturned the tables of the money changers. And He said tothem: "My house will be called a house of prayer", but you aremaking it a den of robbers. (Matt. 21:12).Leading a spiritual life doesn't mean leading a passive life,for the spiritual life is a positive force in which one's virtuesare brought to maturity and perfection, without anyconflict or contradiction between them.
A person can be humble and gentle-mannered, yet at the sametime be zealous, courageous and determined. He uses each ofthese virtues at the right moment and in such a way that it doesnot conflict with his other virtues. It is just like a father whogives his son love at one time, and patronises him at another,without feeling any contradiction.We might cite the prophet David as an example of someonewho showed both zeal and a mild, peaceable nature.
David was undoubtedly meek and gentle, for it says in thepsalm: " Lord, remember David and his afflictions how heswore to the Lord". Even so, it says in the same psalm, thatDavid made a vow to the Mighty One of Jacob: "I will not gointo the chamber of my house or go up to the comfort of mybed - I will not give sleep to my eyes, or slumber to myeyelids, until I find a place for the Lord, a dwelling place forthe Mighty God of Jacob". (Ps. 132:1-3). So here we have thedepth of holy zeal conforming with a meek and humble manner.
45We could mention the prophet Moses as another example ofzeal and meekness combined.
As far as having a gentle temper is concerned, Moses was saidto be "_ a very humble man, more humble than all men whowere on the face of the earth". (Num. 12:3). And yet Moses,this mild and humble man, blazed with zealous wrath when hesaw the people worshipping the golden calf. And he burnedthat calf, smashed it to pieces and scattered its ashes andrebuked Aaron the chief priest. (Ex. 32:19-20).
3.Other people might give an excuse that they haven'tbeen called to this form of serving God. But in reply to this,1 would say that for a full consecration of one's life to God'sservice, one undoubtedly needs a vocation and a clear call, likebecoming a priest, for example. For the apostle said: "No mantakes this honour to himself; but he who is called by God, justas Aaron was". (Heb. 5:4).
Another example of this is being a prophet or apostle.
There are some individuals whom the Lord calls clearly to servehim, as He did with the prophets Moses (Exodus 3), Isaiah(Isaiah 6), Jeremiah ( Jeremiah 1) and Samuel (1 Sam. 3:10) andas the Lord did in the case of the twelve disciples (Matthew 10).There is another kind of person, however, who may nothave had such a clear call, but who finds himself trulyaflame with love for serving God which he cannot resist.And this inner fire is a divine call through the action ofGod's grace within that person. The Lord will have stirredhim from within.
This is, of course, providing that the aims of that person'sactions are healthy, that his means are spiritual, and that in hisservice to God he is not acting independently from the Church.
46In the case of such a person, even if he makes a mistake in hismethod or means of doing something, the Lord will restore thiserror somewhere along the way, and will send him someone toteach him on how to make his aims correct and avoid being self-centred.Holy zeal, then, is part of the action of divine grace withinthe heart; so zeal in itself does not require a call; it is rathera holy feeling which should be in everyone's heart.
The form of action which this zeal takes may, on someoccasions, require a call of some kind. But whoever lives underthe guidance of a spiritual father can be guided in his actions bythis father. Thus both his zeal and his activity will be underguidance and supervision.There are situations when a call might be consideredequivalent to a command, or to be an obligation ofbrotherly love.
If you are walking along and come across someone who isdrowning, or in a burning building, or who is blind, do you haveto be told to go and guide the blind, or save the drowning, orcontact the fire brigade ... ?!
No, not at all. For the heart that burns with love, burns withzeal to save, and the word of call here is merely a formality.The call that is in the heart is above such formalities.Here we might recall the example of the Good Samaritan.(Luke 10). Did the Samaritan make an excuse that he hadn'treceived a call to act as he did, or that it wasn't his official jobto help, such as the priest's or the Levite's?! Or when he sawthe wounded man, did he take "pity on him and bandage his
47wounds?" (Luke 10:33-34) This is how it is then in many kindsof ministering. And we might go on to mention at this point.4.Others might say that spiritual work is not theirconcern but the responsibility of the various ranks of theclergy.
Of course they are right, it is the responsibility of the clergy, butthe priests cannot do it all on their own. They must haveeveryone helping and cooperating with them. Just as it is alsotrue that the procedure of shifting off the responsibility ontosomeone's hand means that one is ignoring one's personalresponsibility, which should rise spontaneously from love andconcern lest others should perish. Does the responsibility ofothers excuse you from acting out of love, whenever it is inyour capacity to do so?!
So be concerned about your brother's well being. And do allyou can to win souls for the Lord. Beware of repeating Cainwhen he said, "Am I my brother's keeper?" (Gen. 4:9). Foryou are your brother's keeper. You protect him by love andcaring. You protect him by your heart and speech, by yourefforts and by your prayers, and by getting into any trouble forhis sake. Do not leave one of your brothers go astray, if it iswithin your power to save him. Because God will call us toaccount for the souls of our brothers on the Last Day.Especially those who found no one to stand beside them, whomwe pray for in the midnight absolution, when we say:"Remember, O Lord, the feeble and rejected, and those whohave no one to remember them".
EEE
48CHAPTER THREETHE NECESSARY CONDITIONS OF HOLYZEAL
1.
Zeal based on knowledge
2.
Accompanied by a good lifestyle
3.
Constructive not destructive
4.
A strong and courageous zeal
5.
A fruitful and active zeal
49Not all zeal is holy zeal, there are false kinds of zeal, such asthat which is not based on knowledge, that which is notreligious, that which is unfruitful, that which is destructive, andthat which is abusive. So we must mention what the necessaryconditions of holy zeal are.1.Zeal Based On Knowledge:
The apostle Paul spoke critically of this wrong type of zeal,which the Israelites showed. "For I bear them witness thatthey have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge".(Rom. 10:2).
So there is false zeal, then. But what is it like? What are itscauses and how can it be recognised?
Perhaps one of the most important examples of this false type ofzeal is:1.The zeal of Saul of Tarsus when he persecuted theHoly Church.
Speaking about himself, he said that "as for zeal" he was guiltyof "persecuting the church". (Phil. 3:6). And he also said:"although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor and aninsolent man, but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantlyin unbelief". (1 Tim. 1:13). He had been persecutingChristianity out of a good intention, but in ignorance of theright faith. Thus he said to the Jews: "taught according to thestrictness of our fathers' law and was zealed toward God asyou all are today. I persecuted this Way to the death, bindingand delivering into prison both men and women". (Acts 22:3-4).
Another example of zeal being used for the wrong purpose is:
502. The zeal of the Jews and their leaders against thetwelve disciples and the apostle Paul.
The Bible tells how, "the high priest rose up and all those whowere with him (which is the sect of the Sadducees), and theywere filled with indignation. and laid their hands on theapostles and put them in the common prison". (Acts 5:17).
It also says, "when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filledwith envy and contradicting and blaspheming, they opposed thethings spoken by Paul". (Acts 13:45),
When Paul and Silas began preaching the gospel at Jason'shouse in Thessalonika, the Book of Acts says: "But the Jewswho were not persuaded, becoming envious, took some of theevil men from the market-place, and gathering a mob set allthe city in an uproar and attacked the house of Jason andsought to bring them out to the people". And they said of Pauland Silas "These who have turned the world upside down havecome here too. Jason has Harbord them, and These are allacting contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying there isanother king - Jesus.'and they troubled the crowd and therulers of the city when they heard these things". (Acts 17:5-8).So here we find a zeal that is not based on knowledge, but ischannelled into false accusations, stirring up unrest,resisting the faith and trying to harm others...
Yet it is an enthusiasm with a religious motive behind it; andthose who are under its influence imagine that they are doingwhat is holy, while they are really going against the truth andusing false means and lies. Perhaps another good example ofthis is what our Lord Jesus said to His disciples:
513." a time is coming that whoever kills, you will thinkthat he offers God service" (John 16:2).
Into this category also comes the whole history of Jewishpersecution of Christianity (and also the Roman), and otherforms of persecution over the centuries. It was of this that ourLord spoke when He said: "they will hand you over to the localcouncils and flog you in their synagogues. On My account youwill be brought before governors and kings""All men will hateyou because of Me...". (Matt. 10:17, 18, 22). There is alsothe example of :4.The vow which the Jews made to fast until they hadkilled Paul.
What happened was that more than forty of the Jews made aconspiracy and bound themselves with an oath, "they wouldneither nor drink till they had killed Paul". (Acts 23:12). Thisis obviously a wrong vow to make, arising from a bad kind ofzeal.
Some of the apostles and prophets even made the mistake ofbeing over-enthusiastic in the wrong way, and we mightmention here, as an example:5.The apostle Peter's zeal in cutting off the ear of thehigh priest's servant.
During Christ's arrest, Peter was overcome by fervour out of hismanly honour and love for his master, and so he, "stretched outhis hand and drew his sword, struck the servant of the highpriest, and cut off his ear. 'Put your sword back in its place',The Lord Jesus said to him, "for all who take the sword willperish by the sword". (Matt. 26:51). Although Peter's impulsehere was well-intended, his method was wrong .
526.The zeal of Moses was originally like this wrong kindof fervour.
At the beginning of his time, before God had trained him in howto combine gentleness and firmness, it happened that afterMoses had grown up: "he went out his brethren and looked attheir burdens. And he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, oneof his brethren. So he looked this way and that, and when hesaw no one he killed the Egyptian and hid him in the sand".(Ex. 2:12). His zeal was well-intended, for it was the defenceof the oppressed, but his method was wrong because he usedviolence and killed.7. Another example of zeal being used wrongly isthat of the apostles James and John
who, when one of the Samarian villages refused to accept theLord, said: "Lord, do You want us to command fire to comedown from heaven to consume them?" (Luke 9:52-54). Butthe Lord rebuked them saying: "You do not know what mannerof spirit you are of, for the Son of Man did not come to destroymen's lives, but to save them". (Luke 9:56). The zeal of Jamesand John was inspired by love and respect for their goodteacher, their Lord and Master. But it was mistaken in itsmethod and for seeking revenge.8.Then there is the case of Joshua's zeal for his teacherMoses.
It was known that Eldad and Medad were prophesying in thecamp. But Joshua became jealous and flared up in indignationon behalf of Moses, his teacher. Yet when he asked Moses if hecould have permission to stop the two from carrying on, histeacher corrected him saying: "Are you zealous for my sake?Oh that that all the Lord's people were prophets and that theLord would put His Spirit upon them!" (Num. 11:29).
53Let us always remember the words of the apostle to the peopleof Galatia: "It is in a good cause to be zealous, in a good thingalways". (Gal. 4:18).Another characteristic of holy zeal is that it must be:2.Accompanied By A Good Lifestyle:Holy zeal will never have a good impression on other peopleunless it is accompanied by a good lifestyle in those who arezealous, so that they may become for others a good exampleand standard for them to emulate.
This is why we find that the apostle Paul was aglow with zealto save souls. Yet at the same time he said to the Corinthians:"Therefore I urge you to imitate me. For this reason I havesent Timothy to you... who will remind you of my way of life inChrist ..." (1 Cor. 4:16-17). So Paul commissioned his discipleTimothy whom he had trained to follow his lifestyle, saying tohim: "But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner oflife, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance".(2 Tim. 3:10).It is a fact that what we, very often see, has a much greatereffect on our spirituality than what we hear.
What people see of your life and model of behaviour has abigger impact on them than what they hear of your sermons andadvice. And if the will of God, which you defend so fervently,is not put into practice in your life, then it is in vain and willmake all your zeal in its defence quite useless!We must love God in order to make others love him. Wemust present them with a way of life, not just instruction. We
54must present the will of God in a practical lifestyle and not justin theoretical teaching. God must first clothe our hearts, andthen we can influence the hearts of others.Beware of being only signposts on the spiritual path.
Anyone who travels on the desert road from Cairo toAlexandria sees signposts on the way directing him toAlexandria, and telling him how many kilometres remain. Thesesignposts only lead him to the city without actually bringing himinto the city. So don't be like this, just pointing people in thedirection of a life with God, but without actually living that lifeyourself.Don't be like the bells which call people to come to church,but which never enter the church themselves.
Don't just stand along the road pointing people to the rightdirection, which they should follow in order to reach God, butactually travel that road yourself, walking or running towardsGod. Then let whoever wishes to walk with you or run, inorder to reach God, do so. Don't be content just to be asignpost .The Scribes and Chief Priests were also signposts on theroad. After all, they led the Magi to Bethlehem where theMessiah was to be born. They examined their Scriptures andsaid: "for this is what the prophet has written". (Matt. 2:5-6).And so the Magi went to Bethlehem, saw the Messiah and kneltdown to worship Him and offered Him gifts. But the Scribeswho had directed them didn't go themselves, and didn't seeChrist or offer Him presents ... !We want people who have reached God and made contactwith Him themselves in order that they can bring others toHim.
55We want people who have seen Him, and touched Him andexperienced Him; who have loved Him and known forthemselves the delight of living with Him, so that they can sayto others: "Taste and see that the Lord is good". (Psalm 34:8).Or at least people who have had the experience that the womanfrom Samaria had when she saw Christ and spoke with Him,and who then said to the people, "Come, see..." (John 4:29).If you have not tasted the food from heaven, how can youdescribe it to others?!
If your heart is empty of God, how can you call others to loveHim? If your eyes are dry, how can you talk to them abouttears? And how can you explain the life of victory if youare still fallen in the state of sin? How will your words haveany power to convince your fellow? So listen then, to what ourLord said: "... whoever does and teaches these commands heshall be called great in the Kingdom of heaven". (Matt. 5:19).
The Lord put practice before teaching. And in the same wayPaul wrote to his pupil Timothy telling him: "take heed toyourself and to the doctrine continue in them. for in doing this, you will save both yourself and those who hear you". So herewe see Paul instructing his disciple to "watch his life" beforeconcerning himself with doctrine... (1 Tim. 4:16).Acquire the fruits of the Spirit, and then people will tasteyour fruit and like it.
Instead of speaking to them about "love, joy and peace" and theother fruits of the Spirit, (Gal. 5:22) let them see those fruits intheir lives. Present them with Christianity - by your example -as a life of joy and peace...
56A stumbling block which sometimes happens is that somepeople who are seeking to serve the Lord imagine that having aspiritual life means being serious all the time and going roundwith a subdued expression. They neither laugh nor smile, andthey speak with intensity and determination. But by doing sothey cause an obstacle to those who see them, who then say tothemselves: "If we travel the road to God, will we turn outlike that too?!"
Does our life with God mean that we should live in constantgloom, raising before us a banner saying, "a sad face is goodfor the heart". (Eccles. 7:3). And is that the correctinterpretation of this verse?!
But if they see you as a righteous and holy person, who is at thesame time happy, rejoicing "in the Lord always" (Phil. 4:4) witha peaceful heart, speaking with others with a smiling face ratherthan a gloomy one; then they will feel encouraged and begin tolike what they see of the spiritual life, and not fear it.Purity of lifestyle makes zeal bear fruit.
Another aspect of the necessary conditions of holy zeal, whichalso springs from a good lifestyle, is that zeal is:3.Constructive Not Destructive:Some people imagine that holy zeal is a kind of revolutionaimed at setting everything right, and that this revolutionmust be accompanied by noise, unrest, insults anddestruction ... !
In reality this is fervour without being godly, because it isdevoid of any spirituality or divine wisdom. The apostle Jamescondemns such zeal, which he refers to as 'envy' saying: "But if
57you have bitter envy and self seeking in your hearts, do notboast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descendfrom above but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envyand self seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing will bethere". (James 3:14-16).Being ambitious for improvements and setting everythingright is something desirable; but it is not good if it involvesending up with disorder. It must be done only by wisdom andspirituality and in a positive way. St James describes thiswisdom and spirituality thus: "But the wisdom that comes fromheaven is first of all pure, then peace-loving, considerate,submissive, full of mercy and good fruit... Peacemakers whosow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness".(James 3:17-18).Therefore Christianity condemns fervour that is destructiveand abusive.
Being zealous for the truth does not mean that you insultsinners or bombard them with rebukes or hurt them, because itis perfectly possible to defend the Truth in a constructive andpositive way. For we are not speaking merely about zeal, butabout holy zeal. And that which is holy cannot be compatiblewith a destructive or abusive manner.Holy zeal is that which rescues the sinner from his sin, notthat which crushes him.
To save is better than to condemn. Building up the soul byvirtue, is better than crushing it by hurtful criticism, insulting itsreputation and tearing its feelings to shreds, or using any othermeans of insulting or humiliating someone, under the name ofzeal!!
58Holy zeal isn't shouting or making noise or fuss, and it isn'tjust speaking, but it is a positive and beneficial way of acting onbehalf of what is good and on behalf of others, whilst adheringto holy methods. It is a spreading of the Truth in a just way, inwhich no mistake is made; with no fuss, no quarrelling orantagonism.It is like the flame that cooks well, not the flame that burnsthe food.
It is not a raging tempest which sweeps away whatever is in itspath roughly and mercilessly. Neither is it a 'bitter envy', asJames described it. Anyone who serves the Lord, who could bedescribed as having zeal, is "eager to do what is good".(Titus 2:14).Likewise, zeal is unassuming, it does not puff itself up orthink too highly of itself.
It feels the pains of sinners, and sets about trying to save them,with love, gentleness and humility. As Paul said to the leadersof Ephesus: "Remember that for three years I never stoppedwarning each of you night and day with tears". (Acts 20:31).So Paul warned them with tears, not with arrogance, pride orharshness...Zeal strives for the sake of others, not to crush them. This iswhat our Lord Jesus Christ did, who said that He had come notto condemn the world, but to save the world. (John 3:17). Healso said: "the Son of Man did not come to destroy men's lives,but to save them". (Luke 9:56). Therefore, holy zeal is amerciful, delivering zeal, whose aim is to save.It is a zeal which goes out to meet, to convince and to followup, which removes obstacles and solves problems.
59Instead of blaming sinners for not following the right path towalk, it makes it easier for them by helping them to walk alongthe way and love it and by strengthening their determination andwill.
Another aspect of the qualities of holy zeal is that it is:4.A Strong And Courageous Zeal:
Some people may like modesty and humility and aspire to thesequalities, but unfortunately they sometimes think that humilityand mild tempered conflict with strength and courage!
This is a fatal mistake. All these Christian virtues arerepresented in the mature character, nothing is lacking. OurLord was both gentle and humble; besides being strong andbold. What a beautiful thing David said about holy zeal: "I willspeak of Your testimonies also before kings and will not beashamed". (Ps. 119:46).Holy zeal is a fire, and fire has power and heat.
The words of a server who is characterised by zeal are like aword of fire, "that goes forth from My mouth: it shall notreturn to Me void". (Is. 55:11). But what is more, the word ofGod "is living and powerful, and Sharper than any two- edgedsword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit..."(Heb. 4:12).When that person prays for the sake of God's ministry, hisprayer is a fire that burns, for "fervent prayer of a righteousman avails much". (James 5:16). Such prayer is able to standbefore God, struggling and overcoming... and to take from Hima strength which fires the ministry and gives it success.
60When the zealous server rebukes, he is like a fire; and when hegives advice, he is also like a fire. And if he deals with somematter, then he does so with strength and God's grace, withoutbecoming slack or indifferent. He is a person whose heart,thoughts, expressions and feelings are ablaze. And his actionhas powerful results.Zeal isn't just following a routine or doing a duty, it isstrength. It is a feeling, an emotion, an enthusiasm, an ardourand a courage that transcends all obstacles. It is a constant andproductive activity. This strength which belongs to zeal appearsin numerous affairs such as: a strength in convincing othersand influencing them, and a strength in defending the faithand Truth, and a strength in action.
If someone with this type of fervour enters the service of God,then everyone feels that a great energy has entered the ministry,and that every branch of it has begun to be motivated andheated, and that it is bearing abundant fruits. Such people havederived strength from the Spirit, which has then become acharacteristic of theirs which accompanies them at all times andin all places.It is amazing that the people of the world may well havecourage when it comes to the thoughtless or irresponsiblethings they do, yet the children of God quite often tend tofeel embarrassed about their righteousness.
It is as if 'humility' were a seal on their lips!! They don't havestrength to defend their principles or beliefs, or their spiritualway of life. It is as if one of them were ashamed of having aspiritual dimension to his life.
Look at how the Bible describes the holy angels: "Bless theLord, you His angels, Who excel in strength, who do Hisword..." (Ps. 103:20).
61It reminds me of the strength with which St. Paul spoke aboutrighteousness, self-restraint and judgement, a matter that scaredgovernor Felix .
Paul was filled with the Spirit, and was thus filled with strength,that strength of the Spirit about which it was said: "But youshall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you".(Acts 1:8).
Another of the necessary characteristics of holy zeal is that itis:5.A Fruitful And Active Zeal:Zeal is a positive activity, not just words... and any positiveactivity must have its fruit in the Kingdom of God. The Biblehas asked us to be fruitful, when it said: "every tree which doesnot bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire".(Matt. 3:10).
If holy zeal possesses someone's heart, then it drives himstrongly towards saving himself and saving others. I hope thatyou will have this zeal, and may you also have, along with it,love for others and the will to strive to bring them into theKingdom.If you don't have the zeal that drives you to act to saveothers, then you will be a barren and fruitless tree.
Would you like going to God without having borne any spiritualfruit, without having even won a single soul for Christ?! Wouldyou be content to be a barren, fruitless tree?!
62If the vine has only one bunch of grapes upon it, then it singlegrape, then it, too, still has a blessing! (Is. 65:8). And whatabout you?! Perhaps you will be able to stand up in theKingdom of God and say: "Here am I, and the children whomthe Lord has given me". (Is. 8:18).
So be fruitful in your life. As long as there is life in a tree, thenfruit will come naturally. Be productive, not passive. Askyourself every day if you are making any new contribution tothe Kingdom, and increasing its yield? And whether you havebeen able to communicate the word of God to anyone else?The most blessed days in your life are those which bearfruit for Christ.
Some of the most amazing days have been those in the lives ofthe saints which were thus blessed and on such days, theKingdom of God grew. The words of the Bible "With the Lord,a day is as a thousand years", (2 Peter 3:8) apply to suchtimes.
The generation in which we live might well cry out and praysaying: O Lord, we did not deserve to live in the generationwhich saw you in the flesh and saw how you worked. Norwould we have been worthy to live in the lifetime of, forexample, St. Paul, either. But yet it is a cherished prayer thatwe make: 'Please give us just one day in the life of Paul, orone day in the life of Peter or Stephen'.
The apostle Peter was able, on one single day, to bring 3,000people to the faith. (Acts 2:41).
And because of St.Stephen, "the word of God spread, and thenumber of disciples in multiplied greatly in Jerusalem..."(Acts 6:7).
63Paul used to win people for Christ in every situation. (1Cor. 9:22). He used to work in every field, with everybody,with the Jews, the Greeks, with those not under the law etc.,with the skill of someone experienced in saving souls. Howmany souls there will be following St. Paul in the Kingdom!Who can tell? And how great will be his yield in the Kingdomof God? One thing is certain; he was definitely no ordinaryservant of Christ.
It is to Paul, and people like him, that the Bible refers when itsays: "I said, You are 'gods'. And all of you are children ofthe Most High". (Ps. 82:6).
Paul was in fact higher than these.
Look at the giants in the Kingdom of God, and earnestly desireto follow their road. Ask yourself every day: "What have Idone for the Kingdom of God? Am I faithful in my serviceand in developing all the talents which God has given me? Andhave I responded to all those souls whom God wanted me toserve? And on the last day, shall I hear his tender voice sayingto me: "Well done, good and faithful servant! you werefaithful over a few things; I will make you ruler over manythings. Enter into the joy of your lord!" (Matt. 25:21).
I always marvel at that clever servant who said to his master:"Master, your mina has earned ten minas". (Luke 19:16).
This is the zeal that is real and fruitful in the Kingdom of God.In taking this as a standard for comparison, we might perhapsask ourselves what we have done for our generation? For thatis what has been entrusted to us, and for which we areresponsible before God and before the next generations..! Whatpractical use has our zeal been to save it?! Has it contributed tothe saving of the church? Or have we taken a look and foundour lives barren, worthless and unproductive?!
64What have we done for a generation of widely spreadpermissiveness, materialism and abandoning of the faith; inwhich it has become a duty for all the children of God to beshining lights on a dark mountain?
Has the church stood up to guide the world, or has it shapedsome of its children to conform themselves to the world?! Havewe given anything to the world in which we live, or have wejust adjusted to its evil ways? Have we acted in such a way thatwe have taught the world our spiritual standards, or have weadopted the ways and means and deceptions of the world?!
Has the world, as a result of our zeal, become spiritual, or hasthe 'spiritual' taken on the form of the people of the world?!
What have we done for the Lord? Can we say to God as ourLord Jesus did: "I have glorified You on the earth. I havefinished the work You have given Me to do". (John 17:4). Inour visits and comings and goings to any house, can we delivera report to God, in which we can say: "Today salvation hascome to this house..." (Luke 19:9).Look at John the Baptist, and what he did for hisgeneration: In a very short time he was able"to make readya people prepared for the Lord", (Luke 1:17) and to lead wholemasses of the people from Jerusalem and all Judea and all theregion of the Jordan, to the baptism of repentance 'confessingtheir sins'. (Matt. 3:5-6). He was able to deliver the bride to thebridegroom and stand and wait full of joy. (John 3:29). This isthe wonderful fruit of a burning zeal.If these saints are a lesson for us, then Nature is too:
I once stood in one of the monasteries, before a huge camphortree, which was about 20 metres high, and which bore tens of
65thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, of seeds, and Ipondered on one of its seeds and how very small it was. Yetthat minute seed was capable of such immense growth andcould itself yield thousands of seeds! I felt my insignificancebefore this camphor tree, and in fact before just one of itsbranches and even before one of its tiny seeds.
The lesson we learn from the camphor tree we can also learnfrom the palm.
A date pit has a tremendous capacity for growth, and to reach agreat height and to produce a vast amount of dates, thousandsof them... I sit and calculate the number of years in the life of apalm tree, and the total amount of fruit which it can produce inits lifetime, and then I feel how small I am before it, .. Perhapsthis same idea occurred to David when he said: "The righteousshall flourish like a palm tree". (Ps. 92:12).Nevertheless, the Bible says that man is Nature's master,the priest of Nature and God's successor on the earth, that hewas the one to whom God gave authority over the plants, theanimals and birds. Yet has man ever been able to put forth fruitlike the palm tree, or flourish like the lilies of the field? Has heever been as productive in his work as even one date pit?!
Supposing in one of your meetings, each person were to bringwith him ten others in his zeal for the Kingdom of God, justthink how many there would then be in the Kingdom if numberswent on multiplying like that!So may you be zealous for the Kingdom and may your zealbear fruit in breadth and depth... May it be broad in terms ofthe number of those it gathers and in its far-reaching extent.And may it be deep in terms of its quality, its spirit and itsconnection with God.
6667CHAPTER FOUREXAMPLES OF HOLY ZEAL
1.
God Himself
2.
The angels
3.
The prophet Moses
4.
Phinehas
5.
The boy David
6.
The prophet Elijah
7.
The prophet Isaiah
8.
The twelve disciples
9.
St Paul the apostle
10. St Stephen11. St Marc12. St Athanasius13. Archdeacon Habib Girgis14. Some of the Father monks
68If we wish to give some examples of holy zeal, then our firstexample must be God Himself, whether in His eternal nature orHis incarnation. Then we will take the angels and the saints ofthe Old and New Testaments, along with some examples fromthe history of the church.1.God Himself:In many places we read that God is a "zealous God" and ajealous God. It comes in the Book of Exodus: "For you shallworship no other god, for the Lord, Whose name is Jealous, isa jealous God". (Ex. 34:14). And in the Book ofDeuteronomy: "the Lord your God is a consuming fire, ajealous God". (Deut. 4:24). And in the Book of Joshua it issaid that "He is a holy God; He is a jealous God". (Joshua24:19). And in Nehemiah it says: "The Lord is a jealous andavenging God". (Neh. 1:2). The Sovereign Lord speaks aboutHis divine zeal saying: "I will be zealous for My holy name".(Ezek. 39:25).
The zeal of the Lord is shown in how He punished evil, whetherit issued from His people or from the Gentiles. Concerning thepeople of Jerusalem who had defiled His sanctuary, He says: "_Thus shall My anger be spent, and I will cause My fury to restupon them The Lord have spoken in My zeal". (Ezek. 5:13).He also spoke of His zeal and the fire of His anger in God'ssweeping attack on Israel. (Ezek. 38:19).
As for the Gentiles, though, the Bible says: "therefore thus sayswhat the Lord God: Surely I have spoken in My burningjealousy against the rest of the nations, and against all Edom,who gave My land to themselves as a possession..." (Ezek.36:5) and He says that it is because "I am very angry with thenations..." (Zech. 1:14).
69It is said of the zeal of the Lord in striking down thewicked:"Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able todeliver them in the day of the Lord's wrath. But the whole landshall be devoured by the fire of His jealousy ". (Zeph. 1:18).On the other hand, in His zeal He saves His people: He says:"Now I will bring back the captives of Jacob and have mercyon whole house of Israel, and I will be jealous for My holyname". (Ezek. 39:25) and also: "This is what the LordAlmighty says: I am very zealous for Jerusalem and Zion, ... Iwill return to Jerusalem with mercy, and there my house will berebuilt". (Zech. 1:14 -16). "For out of Jerusalem will comea remnant, and out of Mount Zion a band of survivors. Thezeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this". (Is. 37:32).
So people used to cry out to the Lord's zeal to save them,saying: "Look down from heaven and see from Your habitation,holy and glorious. Where are Your zeal and Your strength."(Is. 63:15) the prophet Joel calling for a fast and for self-abasement and repentance, and for the priests to weep beforethe Lord. "Then the Lord will be zealous for His land and pityHis people". (Joel 2:18).It was, after all, the zeal of the Lord to save His people, thatwas the reason for the incarnation. Thus in the Book ofIsaiah we find: "For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son isgiven, and the government will be upon His shoulders. And Hisname will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God,Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of Hisgovernment and peace there will be no end... The zeal of theLord of hosts will perform this." (Is. 9:6-7).We find this zeal to save, this zeal for holiness and theKingdom in the incarnation of our Lord.
70This zeal of the Lord's is clearly seen in His cleansing of thetemple, when: " He found in the temple those who sold oxenand sheep and doves, and money changers doing business.When He made a whip of cords, He drove them all out ofthe temple , with the sheep and oxen; and poured out thechangers' money and overturned the tables. He said to thosewho sold doves, 'take things away! Do not make My Father'shouse a house of merchandise!" (John 2:14-16). St Johngoes on to comment on the cleansing of the temple saying: "Hisdisciples remembered that it is written, zeal for Your houseshall consume Me". (Ps. 69:9).It was out of His zeal to save others that our Lord Jesusgave Himself for them.
His was a practical and active zeal in the very deepest meaningof the word. It wasn't just a desire to save, He carried theirsins, paid the price for them on the cross and died for them. Itwas a zeal in which there was love and self-sacrifice. It wasn'tmerely spending something external, the Lord Jesus spentHimself and gave His life. Therefore, He gives us the supremeexample of practical zeal in action.In His period of ministry on earth the Lord Christ had azeal which was full of love.
For the sake of others, "Jesus went about all the cities andvillages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel ofthe Kingdom and healing every sickness and every disease".And "When He saw the multitudes, He was moved withcompassion for them, because they were weary and scattered,like sheep having no shepherd". (Matt. 9:35-36). And St Petersaid of Christ that "He went around doing good and healing..."(Acts 10:38). And God, out of His zeal to save mankind,charged His angels to be servants in this salvation.
712.The Angels:
It was about the angels that St. Paul said: "Are they not allministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who willinherit salvation?" (Heb. 1:14).
Perhaps one of the most impressive examples related in theBible about the zeal of the angels, is what it tells us about thezeal of the Seraphim to serve and save mankind, even thoughthey are chiefly angels of praise. When they heard the prophetIsaiah say "Woe to me!" and ".. I am undone! Because I am aman of unclean lips..." (Is. 6:5) they lost no time at all, andwithout even waiting for an instruction or call, hastened to helpas quickly and enthusiastically as possible. And then Isaiah said:"Then one of the seraphim flew to me having in his hand alive coal , which he had taken with tongs from the altar. Hetouched my mouth with it and said, 'Behold, this has touchedyour lips'; your iniquity is taken away, and your sin purged".(Is. 6:6-7).
Notice here the word 'flew', which denotes speed, and thewords 'live coal' which denotes heat. Both speed and heat areattributes of zeal.
We lack the time to talk about the work of the angels in savingpeople, whether it is the way that they spread the gospel orperform their ministry, or the way that they encamp aroundthose who fear the Lord and deliver them (Ps. 34:7), or carryGod's messages to His servants... but it is to the angels that thepsalm refers when it says: "you mighty ones who do Hisbidding, who obey His word". (Ps. 103:20). Another exampleof the ministry of the angels was when they saved the priestJoshua.
72Satan was standing on the right of Joshua the high priest, inorder to accuse him, and Joshua was wearing dirty clothes. Theangel of the Lord entered and said to Satan: "The Lord rebukeyou, Satan! The Lord, who has chosen Jerusalem, rebuke you!Is this not a brand plucked from the fire?" (Zech. 3:2).
Then they took off Joshua's dirty garments and clothed him inrich clothes. And the angel of the Lord charged him to behavein accordance with the way of God. (Zech. 3:3-7).Then there is the example of the zeal of the two angels whosaved Lot from the fire of Sodom.
It was said that the two angels said to Lot: "Do you haveanyone else here - sons-in-law, your sons, your daughters,and whomever you have in the city - take them out of thisplace. For we will destroy this place... When the morningdawned, the angels urged Lot.. when he lingered, the man tookhold of his hand, his wife's hand and the hands of his twodaughters and set him outside the city..." (Gen. 19:12-16).3.The Prophet Moses:
Moses was so zealous for the Kingdom of God that he becamea champion of the faith in his era. Because of his zeal, he lefthis position as prince in the Pharaoh's place to lead his people toworship God, which is why ".. he refused to be called the sonof Pharaoh's daughter. Choosing rather to be suffer afflictionwith the people of God... esteeming the reproach of Christgreater riches than the treasures in Egypt..." (Heb. 11:24-26).Another example of his zeal is what happened when thepeople worshipped the golden calf. Moses took a veryresolute stand with the sinful people. When he approached thecamp and set eyes on the calf and the dancing, the Bible says:
73"his anger became hot and he cast the tablets out of his hands,and broke them at the foot of the mountain. Then he took thecalf which they had made, burned it in the fire; then heground it to powder, and he scattered it on the water andmade the children of Israel drink it". (Ex. 32:19-20). ThenMoses rebuked Aaron the high priest, and ordered the people tobe struck down, and about 3,000 men died that day. (Ex.32:28).Just as Moses's zeal made him take an uncompromisingstand with the people on that occasion, it could easily makehim ready to intercede for them before God, on anotheroccasion.
When the Lord wanted to destroy them because of this sin oftheirs, Moses stood up to intercede saying: " Lord.. why doesYour wrath burn hot against Your people.. Turn from Yourfierce wrath; and relent from this harm to Your people.Remember Abraham, Isaac and Israel Your servants..."(Ex. 32:11-12). What is more, he went on to say: "... If Youwill forgive their sin - but if not, blot me out of Your bookwhich You have written". (Ex. 32:32).Moses' zeal was two-fold: it possessed strictness andcompassion. It was capable of disciplining, and yet alsocapable of interceding when it wanted the people to be savednot destroyed. And if their salvation meant that they needed tobe beaten, then Moses did not shrink from doing what wasnecessary: "For what son is not disciplined by his father?"(Heb.12:7). Undoubtedly examples like this of Moses' zeal areamong the rare examples of a two-fold zeal.
744.Phinehas:
Phinehas was one of the Lord's priests, and the grandson ofAaron the high priest. It happened, after Balaam had metBalak, that the people began to commit adultery with thedaughters of Moab, so that a man even committed the very actof fornication with a woman right before the eyes of Moses andthe whole people, while they were weeping at the entrance ofthe Tabernacle of Meeting! This so inflamed Phinehas withholy zeal that he went into the Tabernacle after the man andwoman and killed them both, and the camp was purified by theshedding of their blood.Phinehas had done that without anyone having called himto do it. And God commanded Phinehas's zeal and stopped theplague which he had sent upon them because of their adultery,which had killed some 24,000 of the people. "The Lord said toMoses, Phinehas son of Eleazor, the son of Aaron, the priest,has turned My anger away from the Israelites; for he was aszealous as I am for My honour among them, so that in Myzeal I did not put an end to them". (Num. 25:6-11).5.The Boy David:
We spoke in the first chapter about the zeal of King David whosaid to the Lord: "zeal for Your house consumes me". (Ps.69:9). David, whose heart was filled with holy zeal, preparedeverything for building a house for the Lord. (1 Chronicles. 29).Yet although this was indeed the case, David's zeal could alsomake him depressed and weep because of the sins of those whohad abandoned the law of the Lord. (Psalm 119).But I want to speak here about David's zeal when he was aboy, when he fought Goliath. I mention this example becauseDavid was a young boy, not a man of war, and he was not
75responsible for returning Goliath's insult. What is more, Davidwas even rebuked by his brother Eliab for asking about Goliath,for the latter was a giant of a man who struck fear into thewhole army. (1 Samuel 17:24). No one at all would haveblamed the boy David for not volunteering to fight againstGoliath, so we can imagine how surprised King Saul must havebeen when David said to him: "your servant will go and fighthim". (1 Sam. 17:32). And the king answered him saying: "youare not able to go against this Philistine and fight with him;for you are but a youth, and he a man of war from his youth".(1 Sam. 17:33).
Nevertheless, David's zeal had called him, and he wanted toremove the insult made against the army of the Living God . (1Sam. 17:26).
The whole army had heard Goliath's insult but without daring todo anything about it. Furthermore, "When the Israelites sawthe man, fled from him and were dreadfully afraid". (1 Sam.17:24). Only David was not afraid. His zeal made him relynot on himself but on God.
It was a zeal that trusted the action of God, without stopping toshow off itself or its work.
It was a zeal which said to the enemy of God: "You come to mewith a sword, with a spear and with javelin, but I come to youin the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies ofIsrael... This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand... forthe battle is the Lord's and He will give you into our hands".(1 Sam. 17:45-47).It was a zeal which did not wait to be called upon to act.For its call came from its burning heart within, which could notstand silent and speechless, and which couldn't stand unmoving
76and immobile. Events drove him forward even though there wasthe risk of danger. And this is how Phinehas behaved too.
There were others who were bigger and older than David, butnone would dare act like him as his heart was much bigger thantheirs.
In his heart there was zeal, a lighted fire, along with faith andfreedom from fear. With this inner treasure he went forward,and God worked in him and with him.6.The Prophet Elijah:
Elijah was that powerful prophet who said to the Lord: "I havebeen very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israeliteshave rejected Your covenant, broken down Your altars, and putYour prophets to death by the sword". (1 Kings 19:14).Elijah's zeal made him confront the King and reproachhim, just as it also caused him various troubles andaccusations.
The worship of idols was widespread in his era, because of KingAhab and his wife Queen Jezebel, at whose table some 450prophets of Baal and 450 prophets of Asherah used to eat.(1 Kings 18:19).Elijah's zeal urged him to pray that a difficult situation ofsome kind would occur through which people's consciencescould be awakened.
Thus, the holy Bible says about him: "And he prayed earnestlythat it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for threeyears and six months". (James 5:17).
77In his zeal and strength of faith he said: "... there shall not bedew nor rain these years except at my word". (1 Kin. 17:1).This is how the famine came about which lasted for years, sothat when Elijah met King Ahab, the latter said to him: "Is thatyou, O troubler of Israel?" (1 Kin. 18:17). To which Elijah,with all the boldness of his zeal, replied: "I have not troubledIsrael, but you and your father's house have, in that you haveforsaken the commandment of the Lord and have followed theBaals". (1 Kin. 18:18). It all ended up with the return of therain, and the slaying of the prophets of Baal and Asherah.
This zeal of Elijah's was a strong, bold and resolute zeal whichpurged the earth from paganism.
It exposed Elijah, however, to various troubles, such as havingto confront the king who wanted to kill him. And it wasbecause of this king that the prophets of the Lord had hidden inthe caves. They had been helped in this by Obadiah, who was agood man and a palace official, who also feared the king.(1 Kin. 18).
Elijah was also exposed to the anger of Jezebel, who was morepowerful and cruel than Ahab. It was Jezebel who, when sheheard what Elijah had done, sent him a warning that she wouldkill him, so that he was forced to flee for his life. (1 Kin. 19:1).The Lord, however, did not allow her to carry out her threat.7.The Prophet Isaiah:
The zeal of Isaiah was like the words in the psalm: "My heart issteadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast..." (Ps. 57:7).
It was Isaiah who on hearing the voice of the Sovereign Lordsay: "Whom shall I send? And who will go for Us?", repliedstraightaway: "Here am I. Send me." (Is. 6:8).
78Some people might understand the concept of humility to meanexcusing oneself and avoiding getting involved in ministering toothers, but zeal actually puts itself forward for such service withtotal love.Zeal offers itself for service. That is not showing a lack ofhumility, for it knows that it will be used by the action of Godworking through it, as it denies itself completely. Just as whenDavid went forward to fight Goliath, saying: "This day the Lordwill deliver you into my hand, for the battle is the Lord's, andHe will give you into our hands".(1 Sam. 17:46-47).8. The Twelve Disciples:Due to the zeal of our forefathers the apostles, the churchwas founded and spread over the whole world. The voicesof those who originally had no voice and nothing to say, endedup by reaching the farthest corners of the inhabited world.Through their determination, which never flagged, their workwhich knew no respite, and their amazing forbearance, theywere able to say, when others tried to oppose them: "... wecannot help speaking" (Acts 4:20) and "we must obey Godrather than men!" (Acts 5:29).
This was how they spoke the word of God: "with greatboldness". (Acts 4:29).
So "And daily in the temple and in every house, they did notcease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ". (Acts5:42). "And the Lord added to their number daily those whowere being saved", (Acts 2:47) and "... more and more menand women believed in the Lord and were added to theirnumber". (Acts 5:14).
79Out of their zeal, the apostles bore beatings, insults andimprisonment. And when they were imprisoned, floggedand released, "So, they departed from the presence of thecouncil, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to sufferfor His Name". (Acts 5:41). And when they were broughtbefore the assembly, the chief priest said to them: "Did we notstrictly command you not to teach in this name? And look, youhave filled Jerusalem with your doctrine and intend bring thisMan's blood on us". (Acts 5:28).
And when they were expelled from Jerusalem following themartyrdom of Stephen, the Bible says of them: "Those whowere scattered went everywhere preaching the word ".(Acts 8:4).
They were like pieces of coal ignited by the Holy Spirit on theDay of Pentecost, and whose sparks flew in all directions to theends of the earth, and set the whole world on fire.
Thus they carried out the Lord's command when He had said tothem: "... you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and inall Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth". (Acts1:8).They bore witness to Christ and thus obtained the crownsof martyrdom and witnessing.
They had absolutely no fear of death, and their difficulties,sufferings, trials and prison; neither troubled them nor deflectedthem from their purpose. The important thing was that theywitnessed for the Lord, and let whatever would be, take itscourse.
Besides the twelve with their zeal, we must put the name of theapostle Paul.
809.St. Paul The Apostle:
His was one of the most outstanding human examples of holyzeal, if not the most outstanding.When he was converted to Christianity, an amazing energyof fervour and power entered him, so that he was able totestify to the Lord in Jerusalem and in the country of Judea, inCyprus and in Asia Minor, before going on to Greece and Italy.It was Paul who founded the Church of Rome, in addition towhich he wrote fourteen epistles, which were important inlaying the basis of the Christian faith and in its spread. Some ofthese epistles were written while he was in prison.What zeal was this, that a person proclaimed the good newsof Christ even when in prison! And what a lovely thing hesaid about Onesimus, that he "my son, whom I have begottenwas in chains". (Phil. 10).
From prison, Paul wrote to Ephesus, telling the people there:"Therefore the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to have awalk worthy of the calling which you were called ". (Eph. 4:1).Even while he was a prisoner in jail, Paul was concerned for thesalvation of others.
Furthermore, his concern for the salvation of others, surpassedhis concern for himself. Thus in his amazing love for hiscompatriots he was able to say that very moving phrase, whichis so full of zeal and love... "For I could wish that I myselfwere accursed and from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmenaccording to the flesh". (Rom. 9:3).
So Paul's zeal was based on a deep love which made him wantto save everyone, and which made him fear lest anyone should
81fall. He said to the Corinthians: "For I am jealous for you withgodly jealousy. For I betrothed you to one husband, that maypresent you as a chaste virgin to Christ,. But I fear lestsomehow as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, soyour minds may be corrupted from simplicity that is inChrist". (2 Cor. 11:2-3).Out of his zeal for the Kingdom, Paul was constantlytravelling, and enduring hardships in order to spread thefaith.
He said about his ministry: "three times I was shipwrecked, anight and a day I have been in the deep, in journeys often. inperils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my owncountrymen, in perils of Gentiles; in perils in the city, in perilsin the wilderness, in perils in the sea...in weariness and toil,in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst; in fasting often, incold and nakedness. Besides the other things..." (2 Cor. 11:25-27). And what else could there be? He says: "Besides theother things, what comes upon me daily; my deep concernfor all the churches". (2 Cor. 11:28).
This is really zeal, and before this we can only stand and marvel,when we are getting more used to seeing a young man foughtwith vain glory just because he teaches a chapter in a Scriptureclass or delivers a sermon in church! How trivial such thingsseem to be in comparison to the zeal showed by St. Paul!
Besides his preaching in various new fields, St. Paul was alsoconcerned for the existing churches, that they should beorganised, visited and cared for, even while he was in prison.How great were the sufferings which St. Paul enduredbecause of his zeal for the Kingdom! He described them withthe words: "in labours more abundant, in stripes abovemeasure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often. from the
82Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. Three timesI was beaten with rods, once I was stoned..." (2 Cor. 11:23-25).
And concerning his problems, and those of his colleagues in theministry, he said: But in all things we commanded ourselves asministers of God: in much patience; in tribulation, in needs, indistresses; in stripes, in imprisonments, in labors, insleeplessness, in fasting; ..as unknown, and yet we known; asdying, and behold we live... as sorrowful, yet alwaysrejoicing..." (2 Cor. 6:4-10).In the ministry of the apostle Paul and his fellow workers,zeal was never in any way separated from the cross.
For this reason when Paul describes his life and theirs in theministry he says: "We are hard pressed on every side, yet notcrushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but notforsaken; struck down, but not destroyed. always carryingabout in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life ofJesus also may be manifested in our body". (2 Cor. 4:8-10).
This, then, was their situation, in case some of you imaginedthat the life of St. Paul was just the glory of being a saint andapostle.Or in case others imagined that zeal was just an enthusiasmor fervour which assumed the right to order and forbid, orcriticise and rebuke!!
It is easy to forget that whoever lives a life of holy zeal, andstrives for the Kingdom, must take up his cross every day andfollow the Lord.
We spoke in the first chapter about Paul's zeal, and in the third,about the fruits of this zeal, and what we have just said hereabout it is still not enough to do it justice.
8310.St. Stephen:Stephen's zeal was the natural fruit of his gifts andspirituality.
He was chosen to be a deacon from amongst those who werefull of the Holy Spirit and wisdom'. And it was said that hewas 'a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit' and of 'God'sgrace and power', and that he 'did great wonders and signsamong the people'. (Acts 6:3-8).
Stephen began his work with vigour. So what were the resultsof his zeal? The results were thus:"the word of God spread. and the number of disciplesmultiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of thepriests were obedient to the faith". (Acts 6:7).
Those who opposed him could not endure Stephen's zeal andwork, so a group of members of the synagogue of the Freedmen(as it was called) and the Jews of Cyrene and Alexandria, aswell as those from Cilicea rose up to challenge him in debate:"and they were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spiritby which he spoke". (Acts 6:10).
But since they were unable to stand up against Stephen's zealwith all its gifts, they conspired against him and accused him ofblasphemy and handed him over to the Sanhedrin to be stoned.During his trial and stoning, Stephen's zeal did not deserthim. He continued to expound the faith and rebuke theleaders of the Jews for their hardness of heart.
84This was Stephen, then, who was neither an apostle, nor abishop, but simply a deacon. He was, however, a deacon whowas full of zeal and who acted with tremendous strength,through the Holy Spirit within him.His zeal bore fruits which his enemies could not endure. Hehad a boldness too, which they could not bear either. So theybecame furious with him, and blocked their ears to his words,and attacked him with one fell swoop, taking him out of the cityand stoning him. (Acts 7:54-7). Thus Stephen became the firstChristian martyr.Stephen's was a brief ministry, but a fruitful and powerfulone.
Let us go on now to another example of zeal, that of St. Mark,from whose powerful ministry we have all benefited.11.St. Mark:Mark's zeal yielded much fruit in spite of the manyobstacles he faced. He began from nothing, yet he triumphedover all difficulties.
St. Mark came to Egypt, to a land where there was no church,no believing population, no Christianity, and no facilities. Infact there were the Pharaonic forms of worship under theleadership of the god Ra, the Greek under the god Zeus and theRoman worship under the god Jupiter. In addition to thesethere was Judaism, which occupied two districts of Alexandria,along with various other eastern forms of religion. Then therewere the books of philosophy with which the famous library ofAlexandria was stacked. All these different forms of belief weresupported by the authority of the Roman state with all itscruelty.
85The zeal of St. Mark, though, was mightier than all thisopposition.
St. Mark had no material resources at all to help him, andactually entered Egypt with torn shoes from so much walkingon foot. But on finding no believers there he embarked onmaking them a believing people.
With his zeal for the Kingdom of God, St. Mark was able tospread Christianity in Egypt and Libya. Moreover; he helpedPaul in preaching to Rome and other countries in Europe.Mark also founded the first theological school in Alexandria,which prepared those who were to become leaders of the faithto go throughout the east. He also wrote the gospel whichbears his name, and which has been a basic source for the faiththroughout the world.St. Mark's zeal was effective enough to preach to andconvert Egypt, yet it went further than Egypt. The faithspread into many different places at Mark's hands. And hemade many journeys to spread the Kingdom in other lands. Hewas obliged to appoint a bishop to assist him and fill in his placeduring his travels. That man was Anianus, the first of thesuccessors of St. Mark to the See of Alexandria.Naturally it proved impossible for the enemies of the faithto put up with St. Mark's zeal, and his spreading of thefaith. So St. Mark received at their hands, the crown ofmartyrdom in the year 68 AD, but not before leaving us afirmly-rooted faith in the protecting shadow of which we remaintoday.
It remains for St. Mark's descendants to trace the effects of hiszeal, and follow in his footsteps.
86So don't let anyone say: 'I'm ready to serve, but I don'thave any means or resources!'
St. Mark served without having any. He began from nothing atall, and even that 'nothing' was surrounded by opposition. Hehad only his zeal. And this was true for the rest of the apostles.Their way was neither easy nor prepared for them, and wasusually fought with difficulties, since they ministered in pagancountries with the Jews against them, and confronted by theRoman Empire, as well.They laboured and we entered their labour. (John 4:38).Just as Christ laboured before, and the apostles entered into hislabour. The result of all this continued hard work overconsecutive ages is the constant growth of the church.
So there are really two results of zeal: one is that it establishesthe Kingdom, and the other, that it makes it grow.12.St. Athanasius:
What St. Jerome said of Athanasius and his struggle againstArius and Arianism, and how he had been able to change thecourse of history, was certainly true: "If it had not been forAthanasius, a time would have come when almost the wholeworld would have become Arian!"
The Arian problem started some time before Athanasius. And itwas on account of this that Pope Alexandros (the 19thPatriarch) had convened a local council which was attended by100 bishops from the capital and 5 of the western cities. And atthe time when the First Ecumenical Council of Nicea was heldin the year 325, Athanasius was still a young man and adeacon. This young deacon, though, felt that the
87responsibility of combating Arianism lay on his shoulders,and this feeling of responsibility was the source of his zeal.
In the council there were 318 bishops representing the churchesof the entire Christian world, and among them there were alsopatriarchs and church leaders. But Athanasius the deacon, feltthat the whole Christian faith had somehow been entrusted tohis keeping and depended on his somehow finding a solution tothe problem. So he stood up to defend it, most enthusiastically,and refuted every argument of Arius with much strongertheological proofs. Thus he was able to create the articles ofthe Christian creed.When Athanasius became patriarch he continued hisopposition to the Arians and wrote a book against thementitled, 'Contra Arianos' (against the Arians). The book isin four parts, and deals with all the verses which the Ariansrelied upon to support their arguments, and it gives the correctinterpretation of these verses whilst refuting the incorrect Arianunderstanding. Athanasius also wrote many other books indefence of the Nicene creed.Because of his zeal, Athanasius was exposed to muchopposition and persecution. The enemies of the faith madebitter accusations against him and conspired against him beforethe Emperor, so that he was exiled from his seat four times. Hiszeal, however, never left him when he was in exile, butwherever he was banished he set about spreading the correctfaith, expounding the doctrine and refuting Arianism andconvening councils to oppose it. It ended up with his return tohis seat and resuming his struggle, only to be exiled again.Athanasius spent 45 years on the seat of St. Mark, engagedin constant struggle. Out of his zeal for the faith, his namebecame a byword for the faith, so much so that anyone whowanted to prove that he was of the true faith would say: 'Ifollow the faith of Athanasius'. The fervour of this saint never
88flagged for one day. In fact the force of Arianism only kindledhis zeal further, until the faith was laid on the correctfoundations.His zeal began when he was very young, and while he wasstill a young deacon, he wrote two important books: one onthe incarnation of the Word and another entitled 'A refutation ofthe pagans'. Both books became important reference texts,from which all succeeding generations derived benefit, and thisis true even till today...Athanasius was not content just to refute Arianism, hepursued every form of heresy, and as a result of this he wrotehis epistles about the Holy Spirit, in which he explained the truefaith concerning this Person of the divine Trinity. The zeal,faith and holy struggle of Athanasius became proverbial, so thatwhen St. Hilary, Bishop of Boetia, became famous for hisdefence of the faith, they called him the Athanasius of the west.So, we wonder when we see those who look slightly uponmany points of the creed and in spite of this they claim tobe the sons of Athanasius.13.Archdeacon Habib Girgis:
Habib Girgis lived during a dark period of history, in whichthere were no preachers or teachers of theology. And evenlgomanus Philotheus Ibrahim, who was the only light remainingin those days, and whose health did not allow him to finish hismission, had passed on from our world. Habib Girgis was thefirst student to join the new Theological College, in the year1893. And at that time it had no teacher of religion!!
89In his deep zeal, Habib Girgis felt that the TheologicalCollege was his responsibility, so he began to study and toteach his colleagues even while he was a student.
He graduated to take charge over the teaching in the collegeand began to give lessons in theology and preaching. He wenton to write various spiritual books, such as, 'The SevenSacraments of the Church', and 'The orthodox rock', and a bookabout St. Mark. He also took on the preparation of teachers ofreligion.At that time the college building was not very good, andHabib Girgis felt that it was also his responsibility toprovide another building for it. So, full of zeal, he began tocall for this to be done, and went around the country collectingdonations, until he was able to buy some land with adequatespace around it upon which a study centre and a dormitory werebuilt and an institution for teachers. A library was also foundedthere, and the Church of the Virgin was built, which became thechurch for the students of the college before it became open tothe public.In those days, there were no schools for church instruction,so Habib Girgis felt again that it was his responsibility totake care of setting up Sunday Schools. He encouragedmany people to help and participate in that field, with the resultthat religious education began to forge its way, under a greatwave of enthusiasm, to reach the children of the villages. Andthousands became teachers.
Habib Girgis himself was the Deputy Director of the SupremeCouncil for Sunday School teachers; its Director being, in thosedays, His Holiness Pope Yuannis the 19th.
90There were no programs or courses for religious instructionin the schools either, until Habib Girgis felt it's his specialtask to write text books to be used for all stages of teaching.
He set out two series for that purpose: one of them was called'Christian principles' and the other 'The most precious treasure'.The religious instruction they provided lacked nothingconcerning information and knowledge, and those course bookswere amply illustrated. He also issued the journal "AI-Karma"which circulated for 17 years like a teacher moving from houseto house at a high standard. It was the first paper to bring us atranslation of the sayings of the saintly Fathers.Habib Girgis took upon himself all of this, though none ofwhich was officially included in his normal duties. It washis zeal which drove him forward in all these fields, this zeal ofhis which began when he was a student and continued while hewas a teacher, until he became the Dean of the TheologicalCollege in the year 1918.
Through his zeal he was able to provide the church withthousands of preachers and teachers of religion, and hundredsof graduates, who went on to be consecrated as priests in allparts of the country.Habib Girgis' zeal was an example of zeal represented in adeeply positive activity.
It never happened that he criticized the weak, or those who hadgone astray in his era. But if he ever found a shortcoming ordefect, he sought to remedy it, without condemning anyone. Inall respects he was a skilful builder. He dug the foundation andlaid the bases of two constructions: one of them, theTheological College, and the other, the Sunday Schools. Andthen he worked hard until both rose up and could accommodate
91the children of God. This, then, was the zeal of Habib Girgis: aconstructive, effective and positive zeal.14.Some Of The Desert Fathers:
We see that this holy zeal possessed even the saintly desertFathers who practised a life of solitude and prayer in the desertand the desert caves.
One might perhaps argue that they had no need of it since it wasnot the nature of their rank or calling to strive to save the soulsof sinners in the cities, and especially not the women who hadfallen into prostitution. Nevertheless; their holy zeal was farstronger than to let any obstacle like this hinder them. It tookthem to places where they had never been before. Nor did theyworry about 'losing' their face, if they did go to such places.Their whole concern was focused on saving a soul for whomChrist had died, however fallen or degraded it might be.Perhaps in this area we can give three of the most famousexamples of holy zeal in history.a )The saving of Taiis, the fallen woman
Taiis grew up in Alexandria and was very beautiful. But herwicked mother caused her downfall by embroiling her in a lifeof sin. So Taiis lived the life of a prostitute in Alexandria, andhundreds fell to her charms. Her reputation spread everywhereuntil her story reached the desert of Shihit.St. Pisarion's heart was filled with holy zeal, not only forthe sake of saving the soul of Taiis, but also for saving thosewho might fall because of her.
So the saint went disguised in plain clothes to Alexandria, to theplace where Taiis worked and was able to bring her to
92repentance. She burned all her seductive clothes andadornments in the main square, before all the crowd, and thesaint led her away to a home for Virgins where she led a life ofrepentance, which saved her soul and removed her sin.
God told the news of the salvation of Taiis' soul, to St. Paul theModest, who told it to his spiritual holy father St. (Anba)Antonius the Great.b )The example of the saving of St. Ba'isa after she hadfallen.
Ba'isa came from a devout and wealthy family in Menouf. Herfather left her a huge fortune which she began to distribute tothe poor and needy, and to the monasteries and monks too, untilshe used up all her fortune. She was on the point of taking upthe solitary life of the desert, when Satan became envious of hergodliness, and contrived a snare with great cunning and deceitto trap her, at a time when she was weak and unguarded... Thesurprising thing is that he was successful, and Ba'isa fell, andsomehow ended up in a brothel !At this point, zeal took hold of the old desert Fathers inShihit, who were sad to see the downfall of this saintlywoman. And so they chose St. John the Short One, to goand save her.
So he went to where she worked as a prostitute, and recited toher the words of the psalm: "Yea though 1 walk through thevalley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You arewith me..." (Ps. 23:4). And the saint was able to lead her torepentance and take her away from that place of sin in order togo to the desert. Her repentance was truly sincere, and Goddecided to take her soul that very night. And St. John the ShortOne saw her pure, spotless soul being carried by angels into theheavens in a column of light.
93The church celebrates her anniversary on the 2nd of Misra(according to the Coptic calendar).c )The saving of Mary, the niece of St. Ibrahim theRecluse.
Saint Ibrahim was born in the city of Raha in Mesopotamia,where he became a recluse. Then after the death of her parents,the little girl Mary was put in his custody. He brought her upwith him, until she was grown up and became a recluse too,living in a solitary cell near his.
This young girl grew in the life of saintliness, until the day camewhen the enemy set a trap for her and consequently she fell.
After her downfall, Satan cast her into despair and a sense ofdeep shame, so she ran away... and ended up in a brothel. WhenSt. Ibrahim discovered what had happened, he was overcomewith zeal to save her. And on finding out where she was, hewent to her in disguise, aided by the fervent prayers of St. Mar-Ephram AI-Suryani. It ended up with Ibrahim rescuing her andtaking her away from that place of degradation so that shecould return to her worship, and a life of contrition andrepentance.
Towards the end of her life, God honoured her with the gifts ofhealing, as a sign that He had accepted her repentance.
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